The prosecution pointed out that the NCPO had imposed the ban after a coup led by General PrayutChan-o-cha had ousted the Yingluck Shinawatra government on May 22, 2014. Apichart was charged with instigating others to cause turmoil by joining 500 protesters who gathered at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre and held up placards that read “Not yielding to illegal power”.

The defendant denied the charges, saying he had left work on May 23, 2014 at 4.30pm and was heading towards the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre when he received a Facebook message urging him to join the gathering there.

He said that while waiting on the skywalk linking the BTS station with the arts centre, he lifted a placard with a message protesting the coup. About half an hour later five soldiers arrived at the BTS station and escorted him away without explaining what charges might be pressed against him.

Apichart said he was exercising his lawful right to express disapproval of the coup, and had no intention of creating turmoil.

The court acquitted Apichart on grounds that the Crime Suppression Commission did not have the authority to investigate a criminal case in Pathum Wan district, and hence the prosecutors were not authorised to file a lawsuit against Apichart.