Ex-MP gets 2.5 yrs for lese majeste

Ex-MP gets 2.5 yrs for lese majeste

The Criminal Court on Wednesday sentenced a former Pheu Thai Party MP to 30 months in prison after finding him guilty of lese majeste.

Prasit Chaisrisa, a former MP for Surin province, was convicted under Section 112 of the Criminal Code for remarks he delivered at a May 7 speech on a stage at the Imperial World Lat Phrao department store. Parts of the speech, entitled "Stop Overthrowing Democracy," were deemed insulting the monarchy.

Prasit initially denied the lese majeste charges, but later submitted a handwritten statement to the court recanting his statement and confessing to the charges.

Prasit Chaisrisa, a former MP for Surin province, was convicted under Section 112 of the Criminal Code. The jail term was reduced to two years and six months due to his confession. - Thanarak Khunton

The Criminal Court found him guilty and sentenced him to five years in jail.  The jail term was reduced to two years and six months due to his confession.  However, the court reasoned, because of the seriousness of the offence and his status as a former MP who should exercise better discretion than other people, there was no reason to suspend the jail term.

Prasit was arrested on May 29 and has since been detained without bail. The former MP has not shown any intention to appeal.  He so far has served six months in jail.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (1)