Meanwhile, the provincial court granted Khon Kaen police permission for a fourth round of detention for activist Jatupat “Pai Daodin” Boonpattararaksa. This keeps him in detention for another 12 days from Monday to Jan 20.

On December 3, Jatupat was charged with violating the lese majeste law as well as the Computer Crime Act after he shared the news agency’s controversial article on his Facebook page. The article was shared by over 2,000 people. He was released on Bt400,000 bail the following day.

However, an investigator from Khon Kaen police station filed a petition to the court, saying that Jatupat continued to incite the public on social media and could disrupt evidence if left unattended. After his release, Jatupat was considered to have ridiculed authorities on his  Facebook page.

The court ruled he had broken the bail agreement forbidding him to get involved in drugs, tamper with evidence or cause damage after being released. His bail was revoked and he was detained again.

His lawyer appealed against the court’s ruling, saying that Jatupat only expressed his opinion and did not disrupt evidence. Detaining him would also prevent him from sitting for his university exams next month.

The Appeal Court upheld the first court’s ruling and the Supreme Court yesterday ruled that both courts’ rulings were lawful.

Jatupat’s lawyers said they would attempt to file a further bail request.

About 20 of Jatupat’s friends and members of the New Democracy Movement showed up at the court to show their support.