Thailand court sentences Move Forward MP to jail for lese-majeste

Embattled opposition party faces more pivotal court dates

20231213 Rukchanok Srinork and Pita Limjaroenrat

The Move Forward Party's MP Rukchanok Srinork, left, walks with former prime minsterial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat, right, as they arrive at Thailand's Criminal Court in Bangkok on Dec. 13. © EPA/Jiji

FRANCESCA REGALADO, Nikkei staff writer

December 13, 2023 18:30 JST

BANGKOK -- Thailand's Criminal Court on Wednesday sentenced Rukchanok Srinork, a 30-year-old member of parliament from the progressive Move Forward Party, to six years in prison for violating the country's stringent laws against insulting the monarchy.

Rukchanok was charged with violating Article 112 of the Thai penal code and the Computer Crime Act for a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter. Local media cited court documents in describing one of the posts from 2021, which alleged wrongdoing in COVID vaccine procurement accompanied by a photo of King Maha Vajiralongkorn.