APSN | Thai accused of insulting monarch on Facebook

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Thai accused of insulting monarch on Facebook

Associated Press - September 5, 2011

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Bangkok – A Thai lawyer says police have arrested a computer programmer on charges of insulting the nation's revered monarch on a Facebook page. The charges carry a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.

Lomrak Meemeuan said Monday that his client 40-year-old Surapak Puchaisaeng was accused of creating a Facebook profile with defamatory postings about the nation's king.

The Surapak case is believed to be the first of its kind since a new government took power in August. Lomrak says his client denies the charge.

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy but has severe lese majeste laws that mandate a jail term of three to 15 years for any person who "defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir to the throne or the Regent."