The crowd raided the Sam Kong soy-milk shop in Phuket’s Muang district on Friday night to find the shop owner’s son, Suthee Arammethapongsa, whose Facebook post on the King’s passing was seen as mocking.

The angry crowd hung damning posters in front of the shop, cursed Suthee, and hurled objects into the shop. The event was recorded and broadcast live on Facebook. It soon went viral on the Internet, sparking a hot debate on Suthee’s and the mob’s actions.

The protest was called off after Surathin Liam-udom, the former mayor of Tambon Ratchada Administrative Organisation, mediated. A complaint was filed against Suthee for alleged violation of the lese majeste law.

Pol Lt-Colonel Chao Phomna, Muang Phuket Police Station deputy superintendent, said the police had accepted the case and were investigating and collecting evidence. They said Suthee had already reported to the police.

“He is ready to be summoned again. The case is now under police investigation and there is no arrest warrant or any charge against him yet,” Chao said.

“He [Suthee] said he did not intend to offend the King. I’ve read his post on Facebook and I did not find it offensive, so I think he should not be prosecuted under the lese majeste law.”

Chao said many people did not understand the law and were angered by anyone who did not appear to be saddened by the King’s death. He said some people had complained to the police just because someone wore a red shirt during the mourning period for the king, but the case against Suthee was the only one of its kind in Phuket so far.

One Phuket resident, Wisit Itthiwarapornkul, said that people were angered by Suthee’s post because this was a sensitive time when all the loyal subjects of HM the King in the country were mourning his passing. So an offensive post about the King would obviously make people very angry.

“He did not have a conscience about the King’s benevolence and he did not respect the people’s feelings. His actions hurt the people and he should not live in Phuket anymore, because the people here will no longer accept him and his family,” Wisit said.

Another Phuket resident, who asked not to be named, claimed Suthee’s family was widely known to sympathise with the red shirts, so locals often avoided buying their soy milk. This time he had crossed the line and the people had staged a protest.

Meanwhile, many academics such as Sarinee Achavanuntakul, the managing director for knowledge development at Sal Forest Co Ltd, warned people against “improper behaviour” in targeting vaguely defined criminal offences. He said such behaviour could hurt national stability and jeopardise peace and harmony in society.

“I would like to ask the people to respect each other and treat other people in a proper manner,” Sarinee said.