6 January 2009: A recent report has been received concerning the case of Ms. Boonyuen Prasertying, defendant in Black Case No. Or 4326/2551, charged by public prosecutors of Department of Special Litigation 7, Office of the Attorney General, with insulting or threatening the King, Queen, and Heir Apparent. The defendant was accused of attempting to insult or using slanderous words against the Heir Apparent, the act of which might impair the reputation of the Heir Apparent or expose him to hatred or contempt by public, while she was addressing a large audience at Sanam Luang with the use of an amplifier. The Court ruled on 6 November 2008 that the defendant was found guilty of breaching Section 112 and sentenced to imprisonment for up to 12 years. Information given by the alleged offender was found beneficial to the trial and thus the sentence was reduced by half to six years (Red Case No. Or 4308/2551, issued on 11/6/2008). (http://www.crcourt.com/aryaweb/view_case_detail.php?hidTabPage=3&black_r...)
In the case of Ms. Darunee Chancherngsilpakul, aka “Dar Torpedo”, charged by public prosecutors of Department of Special Litigation 7, with insulting or threatening the King and Queen, the Court has scheduled examination of prosecution witnesses between 23-25 June 09 and defence witnesses on 26-30 June 09.
For leading a crowd to lay siege to the office of Thaiday Dot Com Co., Ltd., Phra Arthit Road, on 1 June 1008, and use of megaphone to express slanderous words against Mr. Sondhi Limthongkul, Ms. Darunee was also charged with assembling upwards of ten people to cause a breach of the peace (Section 215), detaining or confining another person to deprive such a person of their liberty (Section 310 bis), committing mischief (Section 358), attempted trespass, and defaming another person by means of a broadcast (Section 328). The Court has scheduled examination of prosecution witnesses for 2-3 July 09 and of defence witnesses for 9-10 July 09.
Examination of witnesses in the two cases shall be conducted on consecutive days and no delay can de made, except for extremely urgent reasons and subject to the permission of the Court.
Translated by Pipob Udomittipong
