BANGKOK — Thailand’s strict laws making it a crime to insult the monarchy entered new territory on Monday when a factory worker was charged with disparaging the king’s dog.
In a case brought in a Thai military court, the worker, Thanakorn Siripaiboon, was charged with making a “sarcastic” Internet post related to the king’s pet. He also faces separate charges of sedition and insulting the king.
Mr. Thanakorn could face a total of 37 years in prison for his social media posts, highlighting what has become a feverish campaign to protect the monarchy and rebuff critics of the country’s military rulers.
The precise insult toward the royal dog was not divulged by the military, according to the suspect’s lawyer, Anon Numpa.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand and the dog he rescued from an alley, Tongdaeng, at a boat race in 2008.
CHAIWAT SARDYAEM / BANGKOK POST, VIA AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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