kale
20-01-2009, 12:17 AM
Melbourne writer jailed for insulting Thai royals
FOR writing three ill-conceived sentences in a novel that sold fewer than 10 copies, Melbourne man Harry Nicolaides was yesterday sentenced to three years in a Thai prison.
Barefoot, wearing leg shackles and looking drawn and weary, Nicolaides stood to hear his sentence.
A Thai court has sentenced Australian writer Harry Nicolaides to three years in jail for insulting the Thai monachy.
The would-be writer was arrested at Bangkok Airport on August 31 last year on charges of lese majeste — the crime of maligning the revered Thai monarchy.
A book he had written in 2006, Verisimilitude, contained a brief reference to an unnamed crown prince. The passage was deemed insulting and a complaint was made to the police.
On his way home to Melbourne in late August, the 41-year-old apparently had no idea a warrant for his arrest had been issued months earlier.
- Writer gets three years for insulting Thai monarchy
- Charged under archaic lese majeste law, pleaded guilty
- Convicted describes time in jail as "torture"
- Family distressed at outcome
Nicolaides was charged, repeatedly denied bail and finally brought to a Bangkok court yesterday for his long-awaited trial.
Hyperventilating and crying, Nicolaides said his time in prison had been "torture". "This has to be a bad dream," he said. "I've faced uncertainty for five months." Nicolaides said although he had lived and worked in Thailand, he was ignorant of the consequences of the lese majeste law.
"I was aware an obscure law existed. I did not believe it would apply to me," he said.
"I didn't have the foresight to contemplate that my words would offend."
Since his arrest, Nicolaides has been held in a cell along with dozens of Thai prisoners. His family fears his health is failing and the emotional pressure is taking its toll.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/melbourne-writer-jailed-for-insulting-thai-royals-20090119-7kty.html
Down with kings and Queens I say, what service do they actually provide other than being pompass assholes.
FOR writing three ill-conceived sentences in a novel that sold fewer than 10 copies, Melbourne man Harry Nicolaides was yesterday sentenced to three years in a Thai prison.
Barefoot, wearing leg shackles and looking drawn and weary, Nicolaides stood to hear his sentence.
A Thai court has sentenced Australian writer Harry Nicolaides to three years in jail for insulting the Thai monachy.
The would-be writer was arrested at Bangkok Airport on August 31 last year on charges of lese majeste — the crime of maligning the revered Thai monarchy.
A book he had written in 2006, Verisimilitude, contained a brief reference to an unnamed crown prince. The passage was deemed insulting and a complaint was made to the police.
On his way home to Melbourne in late August, the 41-year-old apparently had no idea a warrant for his arrest had been issued months earlier.
- Writer gets three years for insulting Thai monarchy
- Charged under archaic lese majeste law, pleaded guilty
- Convicted describes time in jail as "torture"
- Family distressed at outcome
Nicolaides was charged, repeatedly denied bail and finally brought to a Bangkok court yesterday for his long-awaited trial.
Hyperventilating and crying, Nicolaides said his time in prison had been "torture". "This has to be a bad dream," he said. "I've faced uncertainty for five months." Nicolaides said although he had lived and worked in Thailand, he was ignorant of the consequences of the lese majeste law.
"I was aware an obscure law existed. I did not believe it would apply to me," he said.
"I didn't have the foresight to contemplate that my words would offend."
Since his arrest, Nicolaides has been held in a cell along with dozens of Thai prisoners. His family fears his health is failing and the emotional pressure is taking its toll.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/melbourne-writer-jailed-for-insulting-thai-royals-20090119-7kty.html
Down with kings and Queens I say, what service do they actually provide other than being pompass assholes.