Man pardoned for insulting Thai monarchy

Post by **PeteC** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 8:09 am

As follow up on the original thread which is locked. Pete

MELBOURNE, Australia – The family of an Australian author jailed for insulting Thailand's monarchy says he has been pardoned.
Socrates Nicolaides says he found out Saturday morning that his son, Harry Nicolaides, had been granted a royal pardon and was on his way home to Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city.
Bangkok's Criminal Court sentenced Harry Nicolaides in January to three years in prison for insulting the king and crown prince in a self-published 2005 book "Verisimilitude."
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy but has severe lese majeste laws, mandating a jail term of three to 15 years for "whoever defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir to the throne or the Regent."

Post by **lomuamart** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 8:17 am

Thanks for the update, Pete.
Please can everyone respect the lese majeste laws and the T&Cs of the forum when posting on this thread.

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 10:14 am

Well, I suppose, it's the usual MO here. Most of us were probably expecting this at some point, you know, 'do a bit of time' or the usual 'slap on the wrists', then send him home like a naughty boy and appear benevelant.

I think(hopefully) that's within parameters Lomu.

Post by **charlesh** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:49 am

pity Harry couldn't have been more like his namesake father! Imagine the logic?

Post by **cozza** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:44 am

This on smh.com.au today.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/martyr-t ... -8er6.html