Thai opposition lawmaker sentenced to 6 years in jail on charges of insulting monarchy


ISTANBUL

An opposition lawmaker in Thailand has been sentenced to six years in prison on charges of insulting the powerful monarchy in the Southeast Asian nation.

Rukchanok Srinork, 29, a Move Forward Party lawmaker for Bangkok, was found guilty by the Criminal Court on two counts of lese majeste law as well as Computer Crimes Act, according to the Nation Thailand news website.

Srinork, who had pleaded not guilty to the charges, was immediately detained by police following the court order.

Later the court granted her bail pending an appeal against the verdict. She was asked to refrain from activities for which she was convicted.


The lawmaker was accused of violating the monarchy law as well as the Computer Crime Act between July 18 to August 9 last year.

The prosecutors also charged her with posting messages about the COVID-19 vaccine that showed “contempt and hatred towards” the nation’s king.

Srinork’s party leader Chaithawat Tulathon said he would be seeking her release on bail.