In a case that can be described as draconian, a man who 'insulted' his King's dog is set to be jailed for his comments.
Thanakorn Siripaiboon, a 27-year-old Thai man faces prison time after being charged for insulting the king’s dog.
The man's lawyer, Pawinee Chumsri made this known on Tuesday, in an escalation of the already draconian royal defamation law.
According to AFP, Chumsri said that Siripaiboon has been charged by police with lese majeste for a “satirical” Facebook post about the king and his dog.
She said: “There was a post including three photos on his Facebook page on December 6 with a message that satirised the king’s dog.”
Thanakorn also faces lese majeste, sedition and computer crimes charges for clicking “like” on a doctored photo of the king and sharing it, plus an infographic on a growing corruption scandal engulfing the junta.
Thailand has one of the world’s harshest royal defamation laws. Anyone convicted of insulting the revered but ailing 88-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or the queen, heir or regent can face up to 15 years in jail on each count.
Prosecutions have soared since the army, which styles itself as the champion of the monarchy, grabbed power in a coup last year.
Thanakorn, an auto-parts worker, could face up to 37 years in prison.