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Thai man faces jail for 'liking' King's doctored photo

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IANS London

A Thai man may get 32 years in jail for "liking" and sharing on Facebook a doctored image of the country's king, a media report said here.

Thanakorn Siripaiboon, 27, was arrested on Thursday from his home in Samut Prakan province of Thailand for "liking" and sharing a doctored photo of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, as well as an infographic on a Thai corruption scandal, news.sky.com reported on Saturday.

The man, who shared the image with nearly 600 friends on Facebook, has been charged of sedition and insulting the king after criticising a corruption scandal.

Under Thai law, anyone convicted of insulting the revered 88-year-old king, now ailing, can face up to 15 years in jail on each count, the report added.

 

"On December 2, he clicked the 'like' link on a doctored photo of the king and shared it with 608 friends," a military officer was quoted as saying.

Lese majeste is the crime of violating majesty, an offence against the dignity of a reigning sovereign or against a state.

"He is under military custody and is well and in good condition," the military officer said, adding that the man would appear Before a military court on Monday.

In the last two months, at least two people, including the celebrity fortune teller of the crown prince, have died in custody after being charged with Lese majeste.

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First Published: Dec 13 2015 | 2:48 PM IST

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