BANGKOK, THAILAND – The Criminal Court sentenced political activist Sondhi Limthongkul to four months in prison without suspension for defamation by publication and ordered multi-million-baht damages, while a bail request was being prepared.
Ruling at Bangkok Criminal Court
On 7 April 2026 at 9:00 a.m., Sondhi Limthongkul appeared with his lawyer at the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road to hear the verdict. The case was heard in courtroom 714, with Thanakorn Nantee serving as the plaintiff.
The proceedings focused on whether statements made by the activist amounted to criminal defamation under Thai law. The court session concluded with the announcement of the conviction and sentence.
Background to the Defamation Case
The lawsuit stemmed from public statements and publications by Sondhi that Thanakorn considered damaging and insulting to his reputation. According to the complaint, these remarks allegedly harmed Thanakorn’s standing, honor, and credibility.
Thanakorn therefore filed a defamation case with the Criminal Court, arguing that the publications went beyond legitimate criticism. The court later accepted the case for trial.
Defense Position
During the proceedings, Sondhi rejected the accusations and maintained that his statements had been made in good faith. He argued that his remarks were covered by the right to freedom of expression within the limits of the law.
The defense sought to convince the court that the contested publications served the public interest. It also emphasized that the activist had not intended to unlawfully damage the plaintiff’s reputation.
Conviction Under Section 328
The court found that the elements of the offence under Section 328 of the Thai Criminal Code—defamation by publication—had been met. It ruled that the statements, as disseminated publicly, had unlawfully harmed the plaintiff.
The initial sentence was set at six months’ imprisonment. Because the defendant provided information deemed helpful to the proceedings, the court reduced the punishment by one third.
Prison Term Without Suspension and Additional Orders
In the final ruling, the Criminal Court imposed a four‑month prison sentence without suspension. This meant the activist was ordered to serve time in custody rather than receiving a suspended sentence or probation.
The court further ordered that the judgment be published in seven newspapers. The costs of these publications must be borne by Sondhi, according to the ruling.
Damages and Legal Costs
In addition to the prison term, the court required the convicted defendant to pay 2 million baht in damages to the plaintiff. This amount was intended as compensation for the reputational harm found by the court.
The judgment also included 20,000 baht for the plaintiff’s legal fees. Other requests submitted in connection with the case were dismissed.
Ongoing Bail Request
Following the announcement of the verdict, the defense lawyer and family members prepared an application for provisional release on bail. The application was in the process of being filed with the competent authorities.
Further developments in the case were expected to be announced later by those close to the matter. No additional details about the potential bail decision were available at the time of reporting.
Public Debate on Free Speech and Defamation
The case raised questions about how defamation laws should be applied to public statements. Some observers were likely to view the prison term without suspension as either appropriate or excessively harsh.
The ruling also touched on the broader debate over the balance between protecting individual reputation and safeguarding freedom of expression. Public discussion focused on whether public remarks should face tougher criminal penalties or whether stronger protections for speech were needed.
“How do you assess the verdict in this defamation case – in your view, is the prison term without suspension appropriate or too harsh?”
said Thairath, source.
“Should public statements be more strictly punished under criminal law, or is more protection for freedom of expression needed? Discuss in the comments.”
said Thairath, source.