Thai comedian jailed for insulting monarchy

on January 18, 2013 11:45 am / no comments

A Thai court sentenced a comedian and renowned “Red Shirt” supporter to two years in jail for insulting the kingdom’s revered monarchy during a speech at a mass rally in 2010.

Yosawaris Chuklom, 54, who goes by the stage name Jeng Dokchik, was found guilty under Thailand’s strict lese majeste law, which punishes anyone convicted of defaming the Thai king, queen, heir or regent with up to 15 years in prison.

The comedian, who is also facing separate terrorism charges for his role in the 2010 Red Shirt street protests in Bangkok, which ended in the deaths of scores of people, is applying for bail while he appeals the verdict, his lawyer Thamrong Lakdaen said. Click below for full story -