Defamation charge against Andy Hall dropped
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The Prakanong Court in Bangkok today dismissed defamation charge brought against humanrights activist Andy Hall by Natural Fruit Co Ltd, a Thai pineapple exporter.
According to the court decision the charge is dismissed due to unlawful interrogation process under section 120 of the criminal procedure code.
Natural Fruit has launched multiple criminal and civil prosecution against the researcher and activist since February 2013 as a result of Hall's contribution to a Finnwatch report published in 2013. The report revealed serious human rights violations at Natural Fruit's pineapple juice production facilities.
"We are relieved and glad that justice has prevailed in this case," said Sonja Vartiala, the executive director of Finnwatch, in a press statement.
During Andy Hall's trial, the court heard, for instance, a former worker of Natural Fruit who testified that the factory was hiring under aged children and paid unlawfully low salaries to its workers.
The verdict today concerns only the first of four cases filed against Andy Hall by Natural Fruit.
The second case, a US$10 million civil defamation case, will begin tomorrow at Nakhon Pathom Court. The third case, filed under the computer crimes act and criminal defamation charges, will proceed on November 17 at the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court. The trial date for the fourth $4 million civil case have not yet
been confirmed.
If Hall is found guilty of the additional criminal and civil cases, he could face up to seven years in prison and be forced to pay millions for compensation.
Finnwatch has demanded Natural Fruit drop all the charges against Andy Hall, added Vartiala.
Hundreds of other international NGO have recently signed a petition, asking Natural Fruit to drop all charges.
Finnwatch is a Finnish civic organisation focused on global corporate responsibility.
According to the organisation, international demonstrations will be held today in Finland, the Netherlands, UK and the United States to support Andy Hall.
