Hospital employee detained over lese majeste
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A 55-year-old employee of Srinagarind Hospital in Khon Kaen has been detained for questioning over messages and pictures she posted on her Facebook page that were deemed insulting to the monarchy.
Aree Klabsatien, a permanent staff of the hospital in Khon Kaen University, was accused of posting messages deemed disrespectful to His Majesty and posting photographs of herself wearing black on December 5, the King’s birthday. Her Facebook account is titled “Aree Redshirt”.
She was taken into custody on Monday and is being detained at Sripatcharin military camp.
Security officials took action after Supat Passakorn, chairman of the “People Who Love the King Club” in Khon Kaen, and other club members filed a complaint asking police to investigate Aree for possible lese majeste violations.
The military called a meeting of Khon Kaen police and military judiciary officials to study the case, and decided that Aree’s actions did lean towards lese majeste. However, the military said it would not take any legal action because many people had filed complaints about the matter to police.
The military will also ask the Information and Communications Technology Ministry to trace Aree’s Facebook page and check her earlier posts to work out her motivation.
Dr Apichart Jirawuthipong, director of Srinagarind Hospital, said a panel has been set up to launch a disciplinary probe against Aree.
