Thai opposition lawmaker sentenced to two years in prison

A Thai court on Monday sentenced opposition lawmaker Chonthicha Jangrew to two years in prison for insulting the monarchy, her lawyer said, following a speech she gave three years ago at a anti-government demonstration.

Chonthicha, 31, denies the lese majeste charge and has been released on bail pending an appeal against the decision, lawyer Marisa Pidsaya told Reuters.

The court has not yet issued a sentencing statement.

The law is one of the strictest of its kind in the world and aims to protect Thailand's powerful monarchy from criticism, with prison sentences of up to 15 years for each perceived insult.

Chonthicha is currently an MP for the popular opposition Move Forward party, which holds the most seats in Parliament and faces his own legal battles over a previous plan to change the law on royal insults, which a court ordered him to do to remove from your program.

More than 272 people have been charged with insulting the monarchy since 2020, including 17 in pre-trial detention, according to the legal aid group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, which compiles data and has defended many of those prosecuted.

Last year, courts sentenced Move Forward MP Rukchanok Srinork to six years in prison for social media posts criticizing the monarchy.

The move comes two weeks after the death of activist Netiporn “Bung” Sanesangkhom in prison, where she was being held on remand on charges including royal insult.

She was on a partial hunger strike, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.