Case

Stared

Case name

Yutthasak: The taxi driver

Lèse-majesté

Name of persons / Name of Media

Yutthasak

Status of Accused

served penalty

Offense / order

Article 112 Criminal Code

Summary

On 28 January 2014, Yutthasak who is a taxi driver provided service to an unknown passenger. During the ride, both discussed about politics. It turned out that both had a different opinion. The passenger then made the record of their conversation and used it as an evident to press the Lèse Majesté charge against Yutthasak in the next day.

Yutthasak was arrested in June 2014 after the coup. In the deposition examination Yutthasak pleaded guilty as he had no lawyer. The Criminal Court sentenced him to 2 years and 6 months in prison.

The interesting issue about Yutthasak's case was an evidence which was a sound clip that his passenger used her mobile phone to record

Basic information

Background of accused

The defendant was a taxi driver. He never participated in any political rally

Learn more about Yutthasak, read Yutthasak: A taxi driver and the pricey fare paid for a conversation [112 the Series]

Legal Claims

Lèse-majesté

Form of restriction on freedom

Charge filed
Type of media

Speech
Province

Bangkok
Court

Criminal Court Ratchada
Black case

คำอธิบายคดีดำ ภาษาอังกฤษ

No: อ.2529/2557 Date: 2014-08-07
Red case

คำอธิบายดคีแดง ภาษาอังกฤษ

No: อ.2660/2557 Date: 2014-08-08
Arrest warrant

929/2557

Details of offence according to charge

While driving a taxi, Yutthasak discussed about the political situation with a passenger. It turned out that they hold different opinions. The passenger found Yutthasak's conversation deemed to be an offense against lèse majesté law, she recorded the conversation by her mobile phone.

Circumstance of arrest

2 June 2014

The police arrested Yutthasak near the taxi rent place in Huay Kwang where Yutthasak rented his cab.

Upon seeing him there, the officials identified themselves and asked for inspecting Yutthasak’s ID card.

After found that Yutthasak was the wanted person, the police presented the warrant and brought Yutthasak to the Pyathai police station.

Progress of case

28 January 2014

Yutthasak picked up a female passenger from Sukhumvit 55. While driving her to Soi Areee, there was a conversation about politics.

As the passenger found Yutthasak's conversation deemed to be an offense against lèse majesté law, she recorded the conversation by her mobile phone.

29 January 2014

The passenger went to report the case against Yutthasak at the police station accusing him under lèse majesté law. The audio clip recorded by her mobile phone was given as an evidence.

2 June 2014

The officials arrested Yutthasak near a taxi rent place in Huay Kwang and brought him to the Pyathai police station.

3 June 2014

Yutthasak contacted his relatives asking them to visit him at the Pyathai police station and asked his friend to bring insulin to relieve pain from his diabetes.

Initially, the police in charge of his custody did not allow Yutthasak to inject the medicine by himself, except if it was administered by a doctor. Later on, the police official allowed him to inject the medicine and he was taken out from the cell to administer his medicine.

In the same day, another taxi driver bought Yutthasak sweets and drink. The police in charge allowed him to bring the sweets and drink in plastic bottles inside the cell, but disallowed canned drinks.

4 June 2014

After reaching 48 hours of the initial detention, the police brought Yutthasak to the Criminal Court to request for a pre-trial detention order.

Yutthasak arrived at the court around 1.30 PM. His relatives came to the court to file a bail petition with cash deposit in the sum of 200,000 Baht.

Around 16.30, the Court dismissed Yutthasak's bail petition on the ground that the case was severe, the court afriad that the defendant might flee if he is release. Moreover, the inquiry officials also made an objecdtion against bail.

As the bail petition was dismissed, Yutthasak was remaned at the Bangkok Remand Prison pending more inquires.

8 August 2014

Deposition Examination

Around 11.00, Yutthasak arrived at the Criminal Court for the deposition examination without the presence of his lawyer. Yutthasak pleaded guilty. The verdict was read in the afternoon session of the same day. The court found Yutthasak guilty under lèse majesté and sentenced him to 5 years in prison. Given his guilty plea, the imprisonment was reduced by a half to 2 years and 6 months..

20 May 2016

Release

Skip to Top

Case

Summary

Primary links