By Linda Khoo Hui Li
BANGKOK, April 12 (NNN-Bernama) — A prominent Thai politician faces up to 20 years in prison for insulting the king and violating Computer Crime Act during a livestream on Facebook in January, 2021.
The 43-year-old Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of the disbanded Future Forward Party (FFW) criticised the government’s COVID-19 vaccine procurement plan.
He was accused of lese-majeste which carries a maximum of 15 years in jail, and breached Computer Crime Act and shall be punished with imprisonment up to five years.
Thanathorn, now the chairman of the Progressive Movement, was granted bail at 90,000 baht with one surety on Monday.
In a statement, Thanathorn said his criticism was directed at the government and not the royal family.
“My criticism is for the benefit of the people,” he said.
During a Facebook livestream, Thanathorn accused the government for mishandling its vaccine procurement and favoured a biopharmaceutical company owned by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Thanathorn who was the party chief of Future Forward was banned from politics for 10 years in 2020 over a loan he gave his former opposition party.
— NNN-BERNAMA
