Arnon Nampa gets another 32 months in royal defamation case

Thailand’s Criminal Court sentenced lawyer and protest leader Arnon Nampa and four other defendants to two years and eight months in prison each on October 30, 2026, for royal defamation arising from a protest outside Siam Commercial Bank’s headquarters in Bangkok in 2020. None of the sentences was suspended.

Defence lawyer Krisadang Nutcharus said the latest ruling brought Arnon’s combined prison sentences to 38 years, with several other cases still before the courts.

Five defendants sentenced over bank headquarters rally

The judgment was delivered in courtroom 804 at the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road in case No. อ.403/2567, brought by prosecutors from the seventh criminal litigation division.

The court convicted Arnon, the first defendant, and defendants four to seven: Wanwalee “Tee” Thammasattaya, Phongsatorn “Boy” Tancharoen, Promsorn “Fah” Veerathamjaree and Nawat “Amp” Liangwattana.

Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak and Panupong “Mike” Jadnok were the second and third defendants. Both were absent from the hearing and were described in the report as having absconded. 

The prosecution concerned a November 25, 2020 rally outside Siam Commercial Bank’s head office in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district. The United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration and Free Youth joined approximately 2,000 protesters at the gathering.

Protesters called for the resignation of then prime minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, constitutional amendments and reform of the monarchy. Protest leaders took turns delivering speeches against the government, with prosecutors alleging that their remarks also insulted and defamed the monarchy.

The defendants denied the charges

Arnon and other defendants who had been denied bail were brought from prison to hear the judgment. Former Move Forward Party leader Chaithawat Tulathon and supporters attended to offer encouragement.

After considering testimony and evidence from both sides, the court found the prosecution witnesses’ accounts consistent and credible, with no reason to believe they had falsely implicated the defendants.

The court rejected the defence argument that the conduct was protected by the constitutional right to assembly. The judges held that the remarks exceeded lawful limits and insulted and defamed the monarchy, and that the defence evidence was insufficient to rebut the prosecution’s case.

The court initially imposed four-year prison terms on each of the five defendants under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, Thailand’s lèse-majesté law.

“The defendants’ testimony was of some assistance to the proceedings,” the court stated, according to the report. Each sentence was reduced by one-third to two years and eight months, without suspension.

At an earlier evidence-examination hearing, the court had discontinued other charges that qualified for amnesty under the 2026 law on promoting a peaceful society. Only the Section 112 charge remained for consideration.

Defence plans bail applications ahead of appeals

Speaking after the verdict, Krisadang described the prosecution as concerning calls for monarchy reform and objections to laws concerning the monarch’s personal assets under Prayut’s government.

Krisadang reiterated that each of the five defendants had received two years and eight months, while Parit and Panupong had not attended court.

The human rights lawyer said most of Arnon’s remaining cases involved Section 112. The defence had also sought relief under the amnesty legislation for other protest-related charges, while the prison terms concerned Section 112 offences, he added.

Krisadang said the defence would seek bail for defendants who were not subject to detention warrants in other cases so they could contest their convictions on appeal.