(SEAPA/IFEX) – A Thai court has sentenced an Australian author to three years in prison for insulting a member of the royal family, media reports said. “The Nation” online said Harry Nicolaides, 41, pleaded guilty to lese majeste charges, prompting the court to reduce what was originally a six-year jail term to three years instead. […]
(SEAPA/IFEX) – A Thai court has sentenced an Australian author to three years in prison for insulting a member of the royal family, media reports said.
“The Nation” online said Harry Nicolaides, 41, pleaded guilty to lese majeste charges, prompting the court to reduce what was originally a six-year jail term to three years instead.
Nicolaides’ novel “Verisimilitude” allegedly made critical remarks about Thailand’s crown prince.
Lese majeste is a criminal offense in Thailand.
Nicolaides was arrested on 31 August 2008 at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport, shortly before he was to board a flight back to Australia.
In an interview shortly after his arrest, Nicolaides issued a public apology.
Updates the Nicolaides case: http://ifex.org/en/content/view/full/96924