By Islam El-Sakka
A Thai criminal court on Friday sentenced pro-democracy activist and human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa to an additional two years and eight months in prison for insulting the monarchy, raising his cumulative sentence to more than 34 years.
Verdict adds to existing convictions
The court found Nampa and four other defendants guilty of violating Article 112 of the Thai criminal code during a protest on 25 November 2020 outside the headquarters of Siam Commercial Bank in Bangkok. Each received a four-year term reduced to two years and eight months because their testimony was partly useful. The verdict is one of 14 cases brought against Nampa under the lèse-majesté law, with two more pending. Before Friday, his total sentence stood at 31 years and nine months, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.
Protest targeted royal asset transfer
At the 2020 demonstration, Nampa called for greater transparency over the transfer of Siam Commercial Bank shares from the Crown Property Bureau, which manages the royal family's assets. King Maha Vajiralongkorn holds a 23.6% stake in the bank's parent company, SCBx. Nampa's lawyer, Krisadang Nutcharut, said three of the five defendants sentenced on Friday were already serving prison terms from earlier convictions.
Law criticised as political tool
Article 112 punishes defamation of the king, queen, heir-apparent or regent with three to 15 years in prison. Thai officials defend it as reflecting cultural reverence for the monarchy, but critics say it is used to silence dissent. More than 290 people have been prosecuted under the law since 2020, including 20 minors, with sentences reaching up to 50 years. Nampa, 42, has been imprisoned since 2023 and rose to prominence during youth-led protests demanding constitutional and monarchy reform.
