Case

Case name

Sarinee: Written article deemed to contempt the court

Name of persons / Name of Media

Sarinee

Status of Accused

Others(Release without bail bond)

Offense / order

Others (Section 33 of Civil Code)

Summary

On 14 May 2019, article titled "Danger of Overwhelming Legalism (once again): the case of media shareholding of lower house candidates" was published on Bangkok Business Newspaper. the article was written by Sarinee, an independence writer.

Later, on 25 August 2019 Sarinee received summon from the Supreme Court. The summon ordered Sarinee to testify before the court on 9 September 2019. secretary of Election cases section in the Supreme Court was a person who written a memo with regard to Sarinee's article.

The secretary was also a person who accused Sarinee for contempt of court on the ground that the word carelessness and the word "stubborn" were wording are not in line with the fact.

On 9 September 2019 Yutthana, a news editor of Bangkok Business Newspaper who was also charged along with Sarinee did not came to the court because he did not receive a warrant. The court then postponed to inquire both on 26 September 2019 and on 1 October 2019.

On 26 September 2019, Sarinee's lawyer told the court that Sarinee had no intention to contempt the court. If some wording were in appropriate she is willing to apologize the court over the matter. Yutthana testified to the court by himself that he is willing to cooperate with the court and he will publicize advertisement in the newspaper to apologize the court.

The court see that since the accuser and the accused persons are likely to reach an agreement, the court then ordered both parties to discuss with regard to the editing of a disputed article as well as discuss about statement to apologize the court. The court also ordered Sarinee and Yutthana to submit apology statement and the edited article to the court within 7 October 2019 and set to render case's order on 11 October 2019.

Basic information

Form of restriction on freedom

Charge filed
Type of media

Print media
Province

Bangkok
Court

Supreme Court

Skip to Top

Case

Summary

Primary links