Australian writer arrested for l&#232;se majest&#233; before his departure flight from Thailand

On Sept 2, Harry Nicolaides, 41, was arrested by Thai police while he was waiting for his flight at the airport’s departure lounge in an attempt to flee the country, according to Immigration Police Commander Pol Lt Gen Chatchawan Suksomchit. He was sent to the Crime Suppression Division for detention and prosecution.

A media release for his novel, Verisimilitude, which is believed to be the cause of his arrest, reads ‘In 2003 Harry Nicolaides relocated to live in Thailand for two years. He worked as lecturer in Social Psychology at The Prince of Songkhla University in Phuket, where he taught for over a year. He drove across Thailand from south to north and gathered material for his new book. He is currently a lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality at Mae Fah Luang University in Northern Thailand and living in the heart of the Golden Triangle - Chiang Rai.’

Thailand’s lèse majesté offence carries a penalty of 3-15 years in prison. Repeating the content of the lèse majesté charge constitutes another lèse majesté offence.

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