The Appeal Court on Friday sentenced United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship chairman Jatuporn Prompan to two years imprisonment without suspension for defaming former prime minister Abhsit Vejjajiva in 2009, upholding the Criminal Court's ruling.
The case was filed by Mr Abhisit, who said Mr Jatuporn in speeches made on a stage at UDD rallies on Oct 11 and 17, 2009, accused him of issuing an order as prime minister for soldiers to kill people and obstructing the filing of a petition to His Majesty the King seeking a royal pardon for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
In the lawsuit, Mr Abhisit said Mr Jatuporn's speeches had damaged his reputation.
The Criminal Court found Mr Jatuporn guilty as charged and sentenced him to two years in prison without suspension.
Mr Jatuporn appealed.
The Appeal Court today upheld the lower court's ruling.
Mr Jatuporn applied for bail, pending and appeal to the Supreme Court.
In another case, on March 2, the Supreme Court sentenced Mr Jatuporn to six months in jail, suspended for two years, and a 50,000 baht fine.
Mr Jatuporn said Mr Abhisit filed a total of four defamation cases against him. The two other cases were also being considered by the Supreme Court.
On a separate issue, Mr Jatuporn said he and other UDD leaders Tida Thawornseth, Weng Tojirakarn and Nattawut Saikuar would on Friday afternoon submit a letter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha explaining the UDD's opening of a main centre to monitor for possible fraud in the Aug 7 referendum.
He said the UDD planned to open a similar centre in every province on June 19.
Mr Jatuporn claimed UDD core members had been intimidated by state officials over this plan.