A court in Thailand has denied bail to Paul Chambers, an American academic and lecturer at Naresuan University, who is accused of insulting the monarchy, according to the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, as per Bloomberg.
The Phitsanulok Provincial Court made the decision on Tuesday, citing Chambers’ status as a foreigner and the high potential punishment associated with the charges as reasons for denying bail, the lawyers’ group said in a social media post. The court also noted the investigator’s opposition to the bail application.
Chambers, who is charged with violating Thailand’s lese majeste law (Article 112 of the penal code), will be sent to the local prison today. His lawyers plan to appeal the order in the High Court on Wednesday.
Thai police issued an arrest warrant for Chambers last week. Article 112 criminalizes defaming, insulting, or threatening King Maha Vajiralongkorn, the queen, the heir apparent, or the regent. Those found guilty can face up to 15 years in prison.
Chambers has denied the accusations against him. He claims a local army unit filed a complaint concerning comments he made about the powers of the prime minister and the monarchy during an international webinar last October. Chambers, who has resided in Thailand since 1993 and researches the nation’s military, maintains that his response did not violate the law.
Following the webinar, Chambers said a Thai-language newspaper published an article calling for his dismissal, and a Thai security official sent a letter to his university inquiring about his activities and salary.
While Thailand’s lese majeste law primarily targets Thai citizens, authorities have occasionally brought charges against foreigners. In 2012, a US citizen received a royal pardon after serving part of a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for translating and posting a banned book about the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
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