Cartoonist turns himself in
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Thai Rath cartoonist Somchai Katanyutanan, better known as Chai Ratchawat, turned himself in yesterday to face charges of defaming the prime minister.
He met deputy Metropolitan Police commissioner Pol Maj-General Anuchai Lekbamrung to hear charges of defaming a government official while she was carrying out her duty, defaming a person via publicity, and violating the Computer Crimes Act.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra filed the complaint against Somchai over comments he posted on his Facebook wall, comparing her to a prostitute and suggesting she had betrayed the country.
Somchai denied all charges and refused to testify to interrogators. He gave a statement to police later saying he was confident of his innocence and would only testify to a court. He also wrote on Facebook he did not insult any group of people, or compare Yingluck to a prostitute.
A group of people turned up at the Metropolitan Police head office to provide moral support for Somchai. Two companies of police were deployed to keep security.
Anuchai said police released Somchai after he acknowledged the charges. He said Somchai had a right to deny the charges and had promised to submit a statement defending himself to police later.
