US EditionThailand drops royal insult prosecution against American academic
- Thailand's state prosecutor announced on May 1, 2025, it will not prosecute American academic Paul Chambers arrested in early April in Phitsanulok for insulting the royal family.
- The charges originated from a blurb about a 2024 online academic seminar hosted by an institute outside Thailand, at which Chambers spoke, and were filed following a complaint by the royalist army.
- Chambers, a 58-year-old political science lecturer at Naresuan University, faced allegations under the lese majeste law with a sentence of up to 15 years and violations of the Computer Crime Act, both of which he denied.
- Chambers was detained for two nights before being released on bail with an ankle monitor, which was later removed; his Thai work visa was canceled following his arrest, and he is now awaiting a decision on his appeal against this cancellation.
- The nonprosecution order suggests reduced legal threats for Chambers but does not clear him of charges, reflecting ongoing concerns from academics and the US State Department over Thailand's strict lese majeste laws.
39 Articles
39 Articles
Thailand prosecutors decline to indict US professor on royal defamation allegations
Thai state prosecutors announced on Thursday they would not pursue royal defamation charges against an American political science lecturer at Naresuan University who was arrested on April 8 for allegedly violating Thailand’s lese majeste law, according to local media. The attorney general’s office said it had decided “not to indict” the individual, a 58-year-old man who has been identified as Paul Chambers. The Phitsanulok provincial prosecutor …
Thai justice announced this Thursday, May 1st not to charge Paul Chambers, who was accused of insulting the monarchy under the strict laws of the kingdom on lesis majesty.
Prosecutors in Thailand say they won't pursue royal defamation case against US scholar
BANGKOK (AP) — State prosecutors in Thailand announced Thursday that they don't intend to press charges against an American academic arrested for royal defamation, an offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
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