“Somsak Pakdeedej”: Published an article
Defendant
Case Status
Case Started
Complainant / Plaintiff
Table of Content
"Somsak Pakdeedej" is an editor of Thai E News Website. He was arrested on 25 November 2014 after published an article written by Giles Ji Ungpakorn on The website in 2011.
Throughout the proceeding he requested for temporary release several times but the court always rejected until he was sentenced to prison for 9 years under Lèse majesté law. "Somsak" pleaded guilty, the court mitigated his sentence to 4 years and 6 months.
"Somsak" had been granted Royal pardon and was released in January 2016.
Defendant Background
“Somsak Phakdeedate” is pseudonym of an editor of a website named Thai E News. It was established in 2006 in order to spread the news that the main stream media cannot do or avoid spreading. “Somsak” requested to close his real name for his privacy.
Offense
Allegation
Publishing an article wrote by Gilles Ungphakorn which deemed to defame His Majesty the King on Thai E News website.
Circumstance of Arrest
Trial Observation
Black Case
Court
Additional Info
Reference
21 October 2014
Deposition Examination
“Somsak” and Khatawut, who is prisoner under Article 112 of the Criminal Code. were brought to the Military Court around 9.00 AM. The representatives from the EU Delegation to Thailand went to the court, but they were not in the court room as they were informed by the court officer that the court will try this case behind the close door.
The court appeared at the bench around 9.50 AM. The military prosecutor asked the court to try the case behind the closed door because, in this case, the accused was filed against that he insults or threatens to the King, the Queen, the Heir or the Regent and affected national security. In addition, the text in the complaint should not be revealed to the public as it was classified.
The court considered that this case impacted on national security, so the court ordered to try this case behind the closed door throughout the proceeding for the sake of peace and good moral of the people without hearing argument from the defendant.
The defense lawyer revealed after the procedure that the defendant asked the court to postpone the deposition examination because he was not ready to testify. The court announced that next deposition examination will proceed on 24 November 2014.
24 November 2014
Deposition Examination
The Military Court Bangkok set the deposition examination. “Somsak” confessed guilty. The defendant was sentenced to 9 years but his sentence was mitigated by half as he pleaded guilty. The defendant will be sentence to 4 years and 6 months.
However, Somsak told Prachathai that he has not felt surprised with be sentenced to 4 years 6 months. He believes that everything have to change. Initially, he was not allowed to say anything, but he wanted to say “We shall overcome” to his friends.
January 2016
It was reported that Somsak was released after he had been granted Royal Pardon. Counting from the day he had been arrested, he was detained for roughtly 19 months.