A 29-year-old opposition MP in Thailand, Rukchanok Srinork, has been sentenced to six years in prison on charges of insulting the monarchy in the Southeast Asian country.
Srinork, a Move Forward Party lawmaker from Bangkok, was found guilty by a criminal court of two counts under the Insult to Majesty Act as well as the Computer Crimes Act, according to local media.
The MP, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, was immediately detained by police under a court order. She was later released on bail by the court, pending an appeal against the sentence. She was asked to refrain from the activities for which she was convicted.
Prosecutors also accused her of publishing reports about the COVID-19 vaccine that expressed “contempt and hatred towards” the country’s king.
Srinork’s party leader, Chaithawat Tulathon, stated that he would seek her release on bail.