Prosecutors not to try Chotisak for royal insult
The public prosecutors have decided against trying Chotisak Onsoong, who refused to stand during the royal anthem at a theatre in 2007.
“Chotisak’s refusal to heed the royal anthem can not be construed as royal insult as per Article 112 of the Criminal Code,” chief prosecutor Visit Sukyukol of Southern Bangkok Litigation 4 said.
Visit said the prosecutors agreed with the police report from Pathumwan police station that charges should be dropped.
He said Somsak’s misconduct was not a criminal offence but a violation of the common law dated back to 1942.
An offender refusing to stand during the royal anthem may face imprisonment upto one month and a fine of upto Bt1,000.
The offence has a one-year statutory limitation.
Since the police had failed to cite this offence in the report, the case already expired.
