A fundraiser in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen has been arrested as the first victim of the Referendum Act, only eight hours after a complaint was filed against her.
On Wednesday, 27 April 2016, Khaosod reported that Jiraphan Tanmani, President of the Rathawatanamani Fund -- an organization raising funds to promote autism rights -- was arrested for publishing content that was severe, aggressive and rude with the intention of persuading the public to accept or not accept the draft charter in the August referendum.
She was charged under Article 61 of the Referendum Act, where the penalty is up to ten years in jail, a fine of up to 200,000 baht and loss of electoral rights for five years.
She was arrested only eight hours after Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, Election Commissioner of Thailand, filed the complaint.
Khaosod reported that the authorities visited Jiraphan during a meeting at Khon Kaen University. She was officially arrested at 5 pm at Mueang Khon Kaen Police Station. Later that night, she was was transferred to Thung Song Hong Police Station, Bangkok, where the complaint was filed.
Jiraphan (the lady in the middle) at the police's press conference at Toongsonghong police station / Source: Khaosod