Nakhon Sawan authorities insisted Thursday that every T-shirt distributed for the province’s Friday ’Bike for Dad’’ cycling event are genuine following a lese majeste complaint that supposedly fake shirts handed out insulted the monarchy.
Nakhon Sawan governor Thanakhom Jongjira said today that the province had received 850 T-shirts with the word ''royally granted'' on the collar. The rest of the province's 6,200 shirts came from official suppliers, but lacked the same wording, he said.
In addition, the Royal Household Bureau had asked the Interior Ministry to distribute 6,200 sets of T-shirts, wristbands and commemorative pins to all registered participants in the ride to celebrate His Majesty the King's 88th birthday.
However, he noted, 15-20% of the shirts handed out across the province have the words "royally granted" on them as they were sourced from several manufacturers, Thairath Online reported.
Mr Thanakhom was put on defensive after Banjong Lueadthahan, a participant in the cycling rally from Muang district, on Wednesday evening filed a complaint under Section 112 of the Criminal Code against the provincial administration of Nakhon Sawan Province.
Mr Banjong accused the local government of giving him a counterfeit Bike for Dad shirt, which he said insulted the monarchy.
