Controversial anti-corruption activist Chuvit serves 8 months in prison for libel
In a ruling made on a Wednesday, the Bangkok Criminal Court has sentenced Chuvit Kamolvisit, a former politician and massage parlour tycoon, to eight months in prison for defaming and insulting former police officer Santhana Prayoonrat.
The sentence was handed down after Chuvit was convicted by the court for remarks made during a live broadcast on Voice TV's YouTube channel on Nov 23, 2022. The court ruled that Chuvit's statements, broadcast nationwide, amounted to defamation by advertisement under Sections 328 and 393 of the Criminal Code.
The accusations made by Chuvit claimed that Mr Santhana was linked to gambling, misconduct, dishonesty, and violent obstruction of officials. These statements were found to have damaged Mr Santhana's reputation, subjecting him to ridicule and hatred.
It's worth noting that Chuvit had previously been convicted by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for a different offence. In 2020, he was sentenced to one month's imprisonment for submitting a false asset and liability declaration to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. This sentence was completed on July 21, 2020.
However, the court later reduced Chuvit's sentence to eight months due to his partial admission of facts. After the ruling, Chuvit submitted a request for bail pending appeal, which was approved by the court with a surety of 30,000 baht.
The case against Chuvit was filed by prosecutors on behalf of Mr Santhana Prayoonrat, following the complaint made by him. It's important to note that Chuvit knowingly made these accusations in front of reporters, photographers, and the public.
Within five years of completing his previous sentence, Chuvit committed the current offence, highlighting the importance of upholding the law and respecting the reputation of others. This sentence serves as a reminder of the consequences that can arise from defamatory statements.
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