Man accused by brother of insulting Thai king acquitted
Accused cleared of 'lèse-majesté' inconversation with brother, but critics say law is open to abuse
A Thai court yesterday acquitted a man whose own brother accused him of defaming the country's monarch - an extraordinarily grave charge punishable by up to 15 years in jail - in a private conversation.
A judge who read out the verdict said there was not enough evidence to convict Yuthapoom Martnok. His brother Thanawat had been his only accuser, and other relatives had insisted Yuthapoom never insulted the crown.
However, Yuthapoom was imprisoned for a year and denied bail on national security grounds. Yuthapoom was due for release late yesterday.
Critics said the case was worrying because it showed how easily Thailand's lèse-majesté laws could be abused. The case was unusual not only because it pitted one brother's word against another, but because the alleged transgressions were said to have occurred in their home.
Most lèse-majesté trials in Thailand have involved defamation that occurred in the public domain - through a speech, on the internet, or in one instance by spray-painting graffiti over outdoor portraits of the king.
Yuthapoom's wife, Jongkon Kongthin, welcomed the verdict but called the time apart from her husband torture.
"We had to live without happiness," she said tearfully. "The court has mercy and this has proven that justice does prevail."