American academic Paul Chambers, arrested in Thailand and accused of insulting the royal family was released under bail, but his immigration status remains contested, his lawyer said Thursday (10).
The professor at Naresuan University in Thailand was arrested on Tuesday (8) after a complaint filed by the monarchist army, accusing him of defaming the Thai monarchy, which has one of the most rigorous Lesa-jajesty laws in the world.
The immigration department revoked its visa.
The US State Department expressed concern about the arrest, stating that it reinforced Washington’s longstanding concerns about the use of the Thailand Lesa-Majesty Law.
At the same time, it asked the authorities to “respect freedom of expression and ensure that laws are not used to repress the permitted expression.”
Chamber was released under bail on Wednesday night, according to his lawyer, Wannaphat Jenroumjit of the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. Chamber also resorted to the revocation of his visa.
“We must know the result of the feature by Friday,” added Wannaphat.
The charges against Chambers came from a synopsis of an online academic seminar from which he was a speaker. The synopsis was published on the website of a research institute based outside Thailand last year, his lawyer said.
Chamber will not be deported from Thailand until the judicial process is completed, a immigration officer said as anonymity, as he was not allowed to speak to the press.
The Thai monarchy is protected by Section 112 of the country’s Penal Code, which determines that anyone considered guilty of defaming, insulting or threatening the king, the queen, her apparent heir or regent will be punished with a prison sentence of three to 15 years.
This content was originally published in an American accused of insulting the Thai monarchy is released under bail on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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