The Supreme Court Thursday reversed a ruling by the Court of Appeal and upheld the lower court's ruling sentencing red-shirt co-leader Jatuporn Prompan to six months in jail, suspended for two years, and fining him 50,000 baht for defaming former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Mr Abhisit sued Mr Jatuporn, a leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, for remarks he made on Jan 13, 2009 accusing the then prime minister of wrongfully sitting in a chair that put him on the same level as His Majesty the King during a royal audience.
Mr Jatuporn said that by doing so Mr Abhisit showed disrespect to the King. He was presenting a report about the government's work.
On July 10, 2012, the Criminal Court ruled in Mr Abhisit's favour, finding Mr Jatuporn's remark was not made in good faith as it violated Section 328 of the Criminal Code.
The court handed him a six-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and a fine of 50,000 baht. The defendant was also ordered to publish a summary judgement in the Matichon and Manager newspapers for seven consecutive days.
Mr Jatuporn appealed. He was acquitted by the Appeal Court, which on Aug 13, 2013, ruled his remarks were not defamatory. Mr Abhisit took the case to the Supreme Court.
According to the Supreme Court Thursday, there was reason to believe Mr Jatuporn had the intention to defame Mr Abhisit.
The Supreme Court reversed the Appeals Court's decision and reinstated the lower court's ruling.
Mr Jatuporn said he was willing to accept the court's decision as the case was conducted in line with judicial proceedings.