Self-proclaimed crime victim advocate Atchariya Ruangrattanapong was sentenced to two months in jail today, without suspension, after being found guilty of contempt by the Criminal Court.
The contempt charge was filed against Atchariya by the director attached to the Criminal Court, over an incident on October 31st last year, when the lawyer released a summary of the verdict, in a case in which he was charged with defamation, to the media.
The court ruled that the summary of the verdict was released with the court’s consent but that the summary’s content was so similar to the court’s verdict that it suggested that Atchariya had secretly recorded the verdict while it was being read by the court.
Cameras and recording devices are not permitted in Thai courtrooms.
As a veteran lawyer, the court said that Atchariya should have known that his conduct was unbecoming of a good lawyer.
