Court defends Somyot sentence | Bangkok Post: news

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LESE MAJESTE

Court plays down harshness of Somyot's sentence

Published: 25 Jan 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The Criminal Court chief judge insists the 10-year prison sentence handed down to Voice of Taksin editor Somyot Prueksakasemsuk for lese majeste crimes is reasonable.

Mr Somyot was given a five-year jail term for each of the two charges filed against him for violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code when he published two articles deemed offensive to the monarchy in 2010.

Chief judge Thawee Prachuablarb made his comments after the European Union said it was "deeply concerned" by the court's decision on Wednesday.

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facts_only
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Discussion 27 : 28 Jan 2013 at 04.3027
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WakezUp 7, I have read both the charges and the verdict. There was no mention of threats of violence in either. Please google 'Black case no. O2962/2554'.
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patchar
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Discussion 26 : 27 Jan 2013 at 18.2426
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that's how Thai lawyers decided the case... the case is closed.. put the man in prison to start his 10 years journey behind bars.
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watchdog
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Discussion 25 : 27 Jan 2013 at 15.3925
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Discussion #21: "The verdict specifically cited threats made in the publication "Voice of Taksin." The judgment does NOT say anywhere that Somyot was convicted and sentenced for making threats of any kind. Claiming that this was about alleged threats is gross misinformation pure and simple. Most here won't have access to the judgment (which is presumably why this misinformation is being raised) so if you are wondering if there is anything to this, ask yourself this: why hasn't even one single reputable news reported that he was convicted and sentenced to 11 years for making threats?
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siamitude
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Discussion 24 : 27 Jan 2013 at 12.4724
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Where is Justice when the policeman who killed the lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit got three years and was freed on bail... Somyot was sentenced to 10 years for an article he didn't write and denied bail twelve times! Moreover, this very harsh sentence undermines the Institution it tries to protect.
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meme
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Discussion 23 : 27 Jan 2013 at 08.5323
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There is no secret what the fugitive plans to do with our Kingdom. The sooner someone stops him the better.
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android
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Discussion 22 : 27 Jan 2013 at 08.5022
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Article 112 is a law that is made on intimidation basis instead of a justice.
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WakezUp
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Discussion 21 : 27 Jan 2013 at 00.4521
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#20 - the verdict specifically cited threats made in the publication "Voice of Taksin." Go pick up a copy. I think anyone honest, or even half honest would agree not only is that not protected under free speech, but 10 years is in fact lenient.
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watchdog
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Discussion 20 : 26 Jan 2013 at 15.4820
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"Somyot's publication "Voice of Taksin" frequently, and repeatedly made specific threats of violence, and specifically targeted individuals with said threats." No idea if this is true or not, but it is irrelevant. And more troubling, since that was not even an issue in the case, it is deliberate misdirection from what the case was all about.
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DonAleman
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Discussion 19 : 26 Jan 2013 at 15.0419
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This law, ostensibly, was designed to "protect" the Monarchy but ........
the King himself has criticized it so why isn't the law repealed ?
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facts_only
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Discussion 18 : 25 Jan 2013 at 23.0418
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gleentea 15 - "'should not' or 'must not'?"

Are laws optional?
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Court defends Somyot sentence | Bangkok Post: news

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