Opposition MP Piyarat handed 3-year sentence by Appeal Court

The Appeals Court has overturned the Kalasin Provincial Court’s acquittal of People’s party’s party-list MP Piyarat Chongthep and sentenced him to three years in prison, without suspension, after convicting him of lèse majesté.

The former political activist was accused of erecting a sign board with fellow activists criticising the Prayut administration’s dubious procurement of COVID19 vaccines during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, which was deemed by the court as having defamed the monarchy (lèse majesté). An image of the sign board was also posted on the Facebook and Twitter platforms.

The offences were committed on January 23, 2011.

The Kalasin Provincial Court had, however, acquitted Piyarat based on insufficient evidence, but the Appeals Court overturned the verdict.

Piyarat was released on a 300,000 baht bail by the court, on the condition that he must not leave the country without its permission. As such, he still retains his status as an MP.