Fortune-teller and senior policeman arrested for lese-majeste

Anchor Moy · Post by **Anchor Moy** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 1:05 am

Had to work out what these people actually did since the lese-majeste charges cannot be reported without committing further lese-majeste. It's a bit like Alice in Wonderland.

... "The NCPO (junta) has found a group of people committed wrongdoing by making false claims of closeness to the highest institution (the monarchy) to gain benefits," said a statement from the Bangkok military court where the three accused were brought Wednesday in handcuffs.
"Their wrongdoing has widely damaged the highest institution," it added, saying the fortuneteller had confessed to the crime while the other two men denied all charges.
The police officer, 44, faces additional charges including possessing unlicensed firearms and falsifying documents.
The statement did not elaborate on how the men defamed the monarchy as is common in lese majeste cases in Thailand.
Even in cases where the minutiae of the allegations are known, journalists must routinely self-censor as repeating details of charges can mean breaking the law...

http://www.thanhniennews.com/world/thai ... 52711.html

So, even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you.

Anchor Moy · Post by **Anchor Moy** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 1:30 am

Curiouser and curiouser, it has something to do with bikes : http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/5560

The military court detained three lese majeste suspects accused of claiming falsely about the monarchy for personal benefits, one of whom is a well known fortune-teller involved in organising ‘Bike for Dad’...

According to Matichon Online, Pol Lt Gen Sriwara Rangsipramanakul , the Assistant Police Chief now heading a 19-member investigative team on lese majeste cases which was established especially for the case, said that the three pleaded guilty...

Suriyan, the fortune-teller is an advisor to the publicity committee of the upcoming ‘Bike for Dad’ event, a cycling rally to honor the King, which will take place around the King’s birthday on 5 December.
In August, Suriyan was involved in the organisation of ‘Bike for Mom’, a cycling event to honour HM the Queen on 16 August 2015, where cyclists joined Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn and other members of the Royal Thai Household to cycle around Bangkok and in other parts of the country...

A 19 member investigative team, established especially for the case. Good to see the Thai police are serious about fighting crime.
On your bike if you think that "Bikes for Mom and Dad" is a laughing matter.

TheGrinchSR · Post by **TheGrinchSR** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 6:50 am

This is the junta's fightback to ensure it can use these lawas against anyone, after finding that someone was acquited the other day when their 5 year case finally made it all the way through the courts...

Anchor Moy · Post by **Anchor Moy** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 3:12 pm

TheGrinchSR wrote:This is the junta's fightback to ensure it can use these lawas against anyone, after finding that someone was acquited the other day when their 5 year case finally made it all the way through the courts...

Ok, thanks TGSR. It's like everything's in code. The thing about censorship is that people will always find a way around it. But the news sounds weirder and weirder for those who don't know the code.

In comparison, I think the EL news in Cambodia is relatively free. There is self-censorship, but I understand the underlying code here better than the ones used in Thailand and Vietnam.

In this case,the authorities are putting a lot of manpower into pursuing these l-m cases so they will have jurisprudence and can fast-track when the shit hits the fan ? These are just demo cases then ? I was wondering if the fact that the guy is a fortune-teller has anything to do with his arrest ?
Interesting anyway.

Anchor Moy · Post by **Anchor Moy** » Tue Nov 10, 2015 12:33 pm

Hmmm, ANOTHER lese-majeste suspect dies in custody. This is becoming popular in Thailand - two of them in less than a month.

Suriyan "Mor Yong" Sucharitpolwong has become the second lese majeste suspect to die in military custody with the Corrections Department saying he died from a "blood infection"...
Both men died while they were in custody at a temporary prison in the compound of the 11th Military Circle in Bangkok...

Sounds like an unhealthy place. Cause of death:

Gen Paiboon said Monday that Suriyan was suffering from health problems and stress after his arrest....Doctors said an airborne viral infection could be the cause of his acute illness, the statement said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politic ... my-custody