April 2026 saw no new cases concerning public assembly and political expression for the last two months. Nonetheless, of 1,346 cases in which members of the public have been indicted, 527 cases are pending in various stages of the judicial process and rulings have constantly been made each month.
For rulings on cases concerning public assembly and political expression, throughout April, at least eight cases including three Section 112 cases have been decided. As for the remaining five cases, the Court notably dismissed two. The first was the Section 112 case against “Jiradi” for allegedly posting Twitter messages, citing that the prosecution evidence was insufficiently credible to prove the defendant was the user of the Twitter account. The second was the Emergency Decree case against Niwet and Kotchamon for participating in the #Mob18July21 assembly.”
In conviction cases, this included the Section 112 case against “Korn” for commenting on the “KTUK-Khon Thai UK” Facebook page, in which he was sentenced to one year and six months without suspension. He was granted bail pending the appeal. In the Section 112 case against “Jay Juang” and “Jay Thiam”, the two noodle vendors who have allegedly put up banners at their stall, were sentenced to three years and reduced by a half to one year and six months each, with the sentences being suspended for 3 years. All the defendants pleaded guilty in all cases.
Additionally, in the case concerning the Ancient Monuments Act against “Sainam” and “Oil”, the Court of Appeals upheld previous verdict to sentence them to 12 months of imprisonment each without suspension, however they were granted bail pending the Supreme Court’s ruling. In the Emergency Decree case related to the #MobYangGoong case against Arfan, a former member of We Volunteer group, the Court of Appeals upheld the previous verdict to fine him THB 10,000 (EUR 265). Similarly in the case against Mongkhol, the Court of Appeals upheld the previous verdict to fine him THB 10,000 (EUR 265). Lastly, the case against “Bright” Shinawatra related to the “Looking for the Masters” at the 4th Cavalry Battalion, Royal Guard, 1st Royal Guard Division, the Court of Appeals upheld the previous verdict and found him guilty.
For bail applications in April 2026, although the Court previously granted bail to “Pai” Jatupat and “Kru Yai” Atthaphon pending the Supreme Court’s review of their Section 112 case, detention orders against them remain in effect because courts in their other cases have refused to grant bail. Similarly, for “Eye” Kanruethai who has previously granted bail in one Section 112 case, in a separate case the Court denied her bail request. Therefore, there were no prisoners being released on bail last month.
According to the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights’ documentation, since the “Free Youth” assembly on 18 July 2020 until 30 November 2025, at least 1,997 individuals have been charged for participating in public assemblies or expressing their political opinions in 1,346 cases.
Compared to March 2026 and February 2026, there has been no new cases (counting only cases in which the suspects have been charged and not counting defamation cases filed by politicians against members of the public in various areas.)
Altogether, there have been at least 4,076 legal actions against the individuals although some of them are charged for multiple offences.
Prosecution statistics in key offences;
1. Section 112 (lèse-majesté) of the Criminal Code, at least 291 individuals in 321 cases (Of this, at least 169 cases have stemmed from reports to the police made by members of the public.)
2. Section 116 (sedition) of the Criminal Code, at least 157 individuals in 57 cases
3. Violation of the Emergency Decree, at least 1,466 individuals in 678 cases
4. Violation of the Public Assembly Act, at least 202 individuals in 111 cases
5. Violation of the Computer Crimes Act, at least 222 individuals in 243 cases
6. Contempt of court, at least 45 individuals in 27 cases, and insult of the court, at least 37 individuals in 11 cases
Of 1,346 cases, 819 cases have reached their final verdicts (although some cases remain outstanding, since certain defendants decided to appeal the verdicts, while others have not).
Prosecution trend in April 2026 and key events;
April 2026: Noodles vendors “Jay Juang” and “Jay Thiam” convicted for Section 112 and sentenced to one year and six months with three-year-suspension while case against “Chiradi” was dismissed
Throughout April 2026, rulings have been made in at least eight cases concerning public assembly and political expression that have received assistance from the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) including three Section 112 cases, and other five cases. Two of them have been dismissed including the Section 112 case against Chiradi and the Emergency Decree case against Niwet and Kotchamon.
Detail of the verdict in Section 112 cases in April 2026 by the Lower Courts can be expounded as follows:;
In the case against “Chiradi” (pseudonym) for being accused by the People Protecting the Monarchy Group of posting a thread of messages in exchange with other Twitter users with reference made to King Rama X on 7 September 2022, Chiradi pled not guilty. Following the conclusion of witness examination, the Provincial Court of Phatthalung dismissed the case finding there was doubt regarding the prosecution evidence to hold the defendant accountable as the Twitter user.
In the case against “Korn” (pseudonym), a traditional Thai dance teacher at a private school in Chainat province who was accused of commenting under a post containing text and an image of King Rama X 10 in the “KTUK-Khon Thai UK” Facebook page on 1 March 2021, the Criminal Court convicted and sentenced him to three years of imprisonment. Given his guilty plea, it was reduced by a half to one year and six months without suspension given the aggravated circumstances of the case. The Court also deemed that since the defendant was a teacher, he should have relied on his maturity to think before committing any action more than ordinary persons. On the same day, the Criminal Court granted him bail pending the appeal.
In the case against “Jay Juang” and “Jay Thiam” (full names withheld), the two noodles vendors who put up two banners at their stall, one of which is related to a demand to repeal Section 112 and condemning the wasting of public money, and another bearing the statement “Free Our Friends, Being a Burden Wherever You Go” on 18 January 2023, during the pretrial hearing to take and review preliminary evidence, the two defendants decided to plead guilty. The Phra Khanong Criminal Court therefore ruled on the same day to convict and sentence them to three years while reducing it by a half to one year and six months with three-year-suspension.
As of now, rulings have been issued in at least 216 Section 112 cases since 2020 while the number of defendants who decided to plead not guilty is slightly more than the number of those pleading guilty.
Summary of verdicts in politically motivated cases
As of April 2026
Section 112 cases
| Court | Case | Verdict |
| Criminal Court | “Korn”, traditional Thai dance teacher for commenting under “KTUK – Khon Thai UK” Facebook page on 1 March 2021 | Sentenced to one year and six months in prison without suspension,bail granted |
| Phra Khanong Criminal Court | “Jay Juang” and “Jay Thiam”, two noodles vendors for putting up two signs at their stall in 2023 | Sentenced to one year and six months with three-year-suspension |
| Phatthalung Provincial Court | “Chiradi”, 36-year-old-Bangkok-resident, accused by People Protecting the Monarchy Group for posting Twitter messages referencing to King Rama X on 7 September 2022 | Acquitted |
| Court of Appeals | “Arfan Doloh”, former member of Wevo, for holding #MobYangGoong assembly at Sanam Luang on 31 December 2020 | Previous verdict upheld, fined for THB 10,000 (EUR 265) |
| Court of Appeals | “Sainam” Noppasin and “Oil” Sitthichai, two political activists,for allegedly spray-painting lower part of Democracy Monument and Sao Ching Cha to demand right to bail of political prisoners in 2023 | Previous verdict upheld, sentenced to 12 months in prison with suspension,bail granted |
| Court of Appeals | Niwet and Kotchamon for participating in “Reclaiming Thailand, Hunting Down Parasite”, aka #Mob18July21 | Acquitted |
| Court of Appeals | “Bright” Shinawatra, for participating in “Looking for the Masters” at the 4th Cavalry Battalion, Royal Guard, 1st Royal Guard Division | Verdict revised with administrative fine for THB 200 (EUR 5)imposed |
| Court of Appeals | “Mongkhol” for participating in #MobYangGoong at 14 October Monument on 31 December 2020 | Previous verdict upheld, fined for THB 10,000 (EUR 265) |
.
Court of Appeals upheld previous verdict to dismiss one Emergency Decree case, albeit imposing fine in two other cases, meanwhile, case against “Sainam” and “Oil” was upheld, sentenced to 12 months with bail granted
As to other cases concerning public assembly and political expression, rulings have been made in at least five cases with detail as follows;
The case against Arfan Doloh for violating the Emergency Decree while organizing #MobYangGoong assembly at Sanam Luang on 31 December 2020, the Court of Appeals upheld previous verdict to fine him THB 10,000 (EUR 265)deeming he had failed to put in place measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the participants.
Similarly, in the case against Mongkhol for violating the Emergency Decree while participating in the #MobYangGoong at the 14 October Monument on 31 December 2020, the Court of Appeals affirmed the previous verdict to fine him THB 10,000 (EUR 265), citing the posed risk of the spread of COVID-19 due to a lack of preventative measures, even though he was considered merely a participant of the protest.
As to the case against Niwet and Kotchamon (last name withheld) for violating the Emergency Decree as a result of participating in the #Mob18July21 assembly to demand resignation of Prayut government, a cut in funding of monarchy-armed forces, and distribution of mRNA vaccination for the public at the Democracy Monument on 18 July 2021, the Court of Appeals upheld previous verdict to acquit them citing a lack of incriminating evidence to prove the two defendants’ presence during the public assembly.
In the case against Noppasin “Sainam” Treelayapewat and Sitthichai “Oil” Prasai for an offense against the Ancient Monuments Act’s Section 32 and the Act on Maintenance of the Cleanliness’s Section 12 for allegedly spray-painting lower part of Democracy Monument and Sao Ching Cha to demand right to bail of political prisoners in 2023, the Court of Appeals upheld previous verdict to sentence them each to 12 months of imprisonment without suspension deeming the aggravated nature of their action, their lack of fear of the laws, their offensive and desecrating act against property which affected public sentiment and on the same day, the Criminal Court allowed them to post bail pending the Supreme Court’s hearing.
And the case against Shinawatra “Bright” Chankrachang and Panusaya ‘Rung’ Sittijirawattanakul for allegedly participating in the “Looking for the Masters” assembly at the 4th Cavalry Battalion, Royal Guard, 1st Royal Guard Division on 28 September 2020, and they were later pressed with charges for violating the Emergency Decree and multiple other charges, the Court of Appeals upheld previous verdict to fine them and for the violation of the Act on Maintenance of the Cleanliness, they had to face THB 200 (EUR 5)( for violating the Act on Maintenance of the Cleanliness.
.
Bail applications for prisoners, as of April 2026: “Pai”, “Kru Yai”, and ”Eye”, albeit granted bail in some cases, they were denied bail in others and thus not freed from prison, as Courts in other cases still dismissed their bail applications.
In March 2026, the Court allowed Jatupat “Pai” Boonpattararaksa and Atthaphon “Kru Yai” Buaphat to post bail pending their appeal with the Supreme Court Section in the Section 112 case concerning their speeches on the reform of monarchy during the public assembly in front of Phu Khiao School and Phu Khiao Police Station.
But in other cases, where the defendants have remained detained under detention warrants, the Court denied them bail. For Jatupat, he has been granted bail in all but one case concerning the #19SeptToReclaimPowerOfRatsadon assembly which is being tried in the Court of First Instance and no ruling has been made yet. The Court, however, decided to deny him bail in this case. In April 2026, his family decided to file bail request twice and appeal once the Court’s order that denied him bail, although the Court dismissed both requests.
Similarly, in the case against Kanruethai “Eye” Klai-on who is being remanded while appealing her two Section 112 cases, in March 2026, the Criminal Court allowed her to post bail for the Section 112 case in which she was sentenced to two years and 12 months. An attempt to apply for her bail in another case was thwarted as the Court of Appeals dismissed the application. Another attempt to apply to the Supreme Court was also dismissed. As a result, she remains imprisoned in the Central Women’s Correctional Institution.
In addition, in April 2026, an application to bail Tiwagon Withiton who has been imprisoned in a Section 112 case, which is pending in the Supreme Court, was also denied bail. As a result,Tiwagon continues to be imprisoned in the Khon Kaen Special Correctional Institution where he has been incarcerated for one year and eight months. In the case of Arnon Nampa, whose nine Section 112 cases are being appealed, the Supreme Court dismissed the bail applications as well. Therefore, in the past month, not a single prisoner has been discharged from the prison.
South Bangkok Criminal Court denied “Mind” Passaravalee, defendant in Section 112 case concerning assembly in front of the German Embassy, request to travel to attend training in Brazil.
In the past month, the South Bangkok Criminal Court dismissed request to travel abroad of Passaravalee “Mind” Thanakitvibulphol, a defendant in a case related to an assembly at the German Embassy on 26 October 2020, also known asthe #26OctToGermanEmbassy assembly, as she was principally indicted for an offense against Sections 112 and 116.
Passaravalee had applied for permission to travel abroad to attend a training program on Digital Comms Frontlines 2026 in São Paulo, Brazil, between 14-17 April 2026. She affirmed that such trip was based on a clear itinerary and would not have any bearing on prosecution witness examination which shall take place in June 2026.
Her case is pending prosecution witness examination and the hearings have been scheduled to take place during 18-19 June 2026 and six more hearings throughout September 2026.
The Court of Appeals upheld previous verdict to dismiss “Dave” Chayapol’s litigation against Royal Thai Police for wrongful application of arrest warrant against him in Section 112 case, deeming the police’s acts lawful and complainant not yet placed under arrest
In the past month, there was a ruling about the litigation filed by Chayapol “Dave” Danotai to hold the Royal Thai Police accountable for wrongfully applying for an arrest warrant against him in a Section 112 case. This was related to the spray-painting of portraits of His Majesty the King in various places close to Thammasat University’s Rangsit Campus during the night of 10 January 2021, even though Chayapol was not at all involved with such an incident.
The Court of Appeals upheld the previous verdict to dismiss Chayapol’s case finding the action carried out by the investigation team lawful, and therefore not done with negligence and there was no ulterior motive to charge Chayapol and to cause him any injury.
“Sentences of Sentenced” A chance to explore full-version of the verdicts until 10 May 2026
At the end of April 2026, the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), ThumbRights, Realframe and iLaw organized the exhibition “Sentences of Sentenced” to give the public a chance to bear witness and read the full-version of the complaints and verdicts against political prisoners. Admission to the exhibition was available at All Rise (iLaw) building every day with special events during weekends until 10 May 2026.
You are invited to the exhibition ‘Sentences of Sentenced’ from 25 April – 10 May 2026
ข่าวหรือบทความที่เกี่ยวข้อง
[Analysis] Seven years after the coup: Lawsuits under the NCPO regime as “lawfare” (part 2)
The coup d’état on 22 May 2014 has left greater long-lasting legacies and enduring challenges for the resumption of democratic rule in Thailand than any previous coup over the past few decades. After the junta that launched the coup, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) ruled the country for five years, one month, […]
admin010
03/06/2564
The expanding universe of legal persecutions: Examining various developments following the #19Sept protest (Part 1)
The hashtag #19SeptReturnPowerToThePeople was widely used to refer to the two-day demonstration held by “Ratsadon Group” at the Royal Plaza and Thammasat University from 19 to 20 September 2020. This rally is well-known for several of its distinctive features. It is estimated that around 200,000 protestors attended the event; many camped out at the Royal Garden and […]
admin010
28/06/2564
The Thai Government fails to address international concern over key human rights issues at UN-backed review
Bangkok, Paris, 17 march 2022. The Thai government failed to address international concerns by refusing to accept key human rights recommendations that Thailand received during its third Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its member organizations Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw), Manushya Foundation, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), […]
admin010
18/03/2565
Human Rights Situation Report March 2022
In March 2022, intensification of the political situation in Thailand still remains. Additionally, at least 10 individuals were accused of violating Article 112. Meanwhile, other accusations were gradually prosecuted in courts and witnesses were summoned to testify, as well as some cases had a verdict read. the Court acquitted four cases of the alleged violations […]