Singaporean man gets royal pardon after being jailed for defaming Thai monarch
BANGKOK — A Singaporean man convicted of defaming Thailand’s monarchy has been released from jail after receiving a royal pardon from the king.
Lawyer Arnon Nampa said Tuesday that the man, who uses the Thai name Wanchai Tan, was freed from Bangkok Remand Prison on Tuesday.
Wanchai, a Singaporean tour guide who has lived in Thailand for more than 30 years, was convicted of insulting the monarchy by distributing defamatory documents about the king during political protests in 2009.
Arnon says that Wanchai submitted a petition and was given a royal pardon.
The law protecting the monarchy from defamation, or lese majeste, mandates a jail term of between three to 15 years.
Wanchai was sentenced to 15 years in jail on two counts of lese majeste.
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