19 January 2009

Alert

Court sentences Australian author to three years in prison


Incident details

Harry Nicolaides

writer(s)

(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://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/96924



Source:

Southeast Asian Press Alliance
Unit 3B, Thakolsuk Place
No. 115 Terddumri Road
Dusit, Bangkok 10300
Thailand
seapa (@) seapa.org
Phone: +66 2 243 5579
Fax: +66 2 244 8749
 

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More on this case

Australian author Harry Nicolaides receives royal pardon on lese majeste conviction, released from Thai prison 23 February 2009 Australian author arrested on lèse-majesté charge, denied bail 11 September 2008

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