Man spared prosecution
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The public prosecution team has decided not to go ahead with a lese majeste complaint against Chotisak Onsoon for refusing to stand while the royal anthem was being played at a film theatre in 2007.
“Chotisak’s refusal to heed the royal anthem cannot be construed as a royal insult as per Article 112 of the Criminal Code,” chief prosecutor Visit Sukyukol of Southern Bangkok Litigation 4 said.
Visit added that prosecutors agreed with Pathumwan police chief’s suggestion that the charges should be dropped. He said Chotisak’s misconduct was not a criminal offence but a violation of a law dating back to 1942, in which a Thai citizen refusing to stand while the royal anthem is being played may face up to a month in prison or a fine of up to Bt1,000. This offence has a one-year statutory limitation, and since this offence was not cited in the complaint, the case has already expired.
Earlier yesterday, a leaked document obtained by The Nation showed that the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) has decided to not go ahead with a lese majeste case against Chotisak, citing inadequate evidence.
