Military court gives 1st lese majeste verdict, twice harsher than civilian court

The military court on Tuesday sentenced a red-shirt host of a political podcast program to 10 years in jail for defaming the King on his program, but since the defendant pleaded guilty, the court reduced the sentence by half to five years in jail. 

 

Normally, the civilian criminal court sentences the defendants to three to five years for one count of lese majeste, but in this case the military court gives 10 year jail term for only one count. 

 

Kathawut B., was a host of a political podcast program called Kathawut Nainaemak. He was summoned by the junta’s National Council for Peace and Order to report himself and reported in on 3 June and was detained for seven days. He was then charged with lese majeste offense for his program.  He has been detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison.  

 

In late October, the military court rejected Kathawut’s bail request in closed trial. 

 

According to the military court act, Kathuwut could not appeal since cases tried by the military court during the martial law could not appeal.