A Thai court has sentenced Anon Nampa, a prominent activist, to two years in prison under Section 112 of the Criminal Code (Lèse Majesté) and Section 14(3) of the Computer Crime Act. The case stems from a social media post in which Anon shared a letter and comments criticizing the monarchy, alleging an overreach of royal powers.
The court ruled that the post was defamatory and harmful to the King’s dignity, misleading the public into believing the monarchy had expanded its authority beyond democratic norms and improperly utilized public funds. While Anon argued that his posts were a legitimate exercise of freedom of expression under Section 34 of the Constitution, the court emphasized that such rights are limited by laws protecting national security, public order, and the rights of others.
The original sentence of three years was reduced by one-third to two years due to mitigating circumstances. This latest sentence will be served consecutively with prior convictions, bringing Anon’s total prison term to 16 years, 2 months, and 20 days across five cases. The court reiterated that freedom of expression cannot justify actions that undermine state security or harm the monarchy.