Thai Man Jailed Over Facebook Comment Under Royal Defamation Law
Thai Man Jailed Over Facebook Comment Under Royal Defamation Law
BANGKOK, 20 June 2026 – A Thai court has sentenced a 43-year-old Bangkok resident to 18 months in prison after finding him guilty of royal defamation over a comment posted in the Royalist Marketplace Facebook group in 2021, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).
The man, identified by the pseudonym “Pui” was charged under Thailand’s royal defamation law and the Computer Crime Act for commenting on a Facebook post inviting the public to greet King Vajiralongkorn, Queen Suthida and royal consort Sineenat at Don Mueang Air Force Base on Nov. 20, 2021.
The complaint was filed by Thakoon Nualkaew, a member of an ultra-royalist group, who alleged that the comment was defamatory.
TLHR said on June 18 that the court initially sentenced Pui to three years in prison but reduced the term to one year and six months after he pleaded guilty.
The court later granted him bail pending appeal after he posted 100,000 baht (about US$3,000) in cash as security.
Royalist Marketplace, established by academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun in April 2020, is a Facebook group known for discussions and satire related to Thailand’s monarchy.
According to TLHR, at least 17 royal defamation complaints have been filed against social media users over posts or comments made in the Royalist Marketplace group, with all of the complaints lodged by members of ultra-royalist groups.
