Jeng gets 2 years for lese majeste

Jeng gets 2 years for lese majeste

The Criminal Court on Thursday sentenced Yossawaris Chuklom, alias Jeng Dokchik, adviser to the deputy commerce minister and leading member of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), to two years imprisonment without suspension for lese majeste.

Yossawaris Chuklom (Photo by Surapol Promsaka na Sakolnakorn)

According to the lawsuit filed by the prosecutors on Sept 1, 2010, Mr Yossawaris made a speech on a UDD stage on March 29, 2010 at Makhawan Rangsan bridge and part of it was deemed lese majeste in violation of Article 112 of the Criminal Code and Sections 2, 8 and 12 of the constitution.

The court found him guilty and sentenced him to three years in jail.  The jail sentence was commuted to two years without suspension because his testimony was useful.

Mr Yossawaris refused to comment on the court judgement, saying only that he had not intended to commit lese majeste.

His lawyer, Thamrong Lakdaeng, said he would apply for bail, putting up 500,000 baht as collateral, pending an appeal.

If a larger surety was needed, Deputy Commerce Minister Nattawut Saikuar would use his position as a guarantee, he said.

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