Royal defamation detainee released after serving three-year sentence
A 23-year-old former secondhand clothes vendor sentenced to prison on a royal defamation charge was released yesterday (27 September) after completing his three-year sentence.
Weeraphap Wongsaman was charged with royal defamation for spraying painting a message calling for monarchy reform during a protest at the Din Daeng Intersection in September 2021. He was sentenced to 3 years in prison on 28 September 2023. He was subsequently denied bail by the Appeal Court and has been detained since.
Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) said that, in October 2025, Weeraphap withdrew his appeal as he has been detained for a long time and being detained pending appeal means he is not eligible for pardon, sentence reduction, or parole.
On Sunday morning (27 September), activists and regular protest goers waited in front of the Bangkok Remand Prison despite deep floodwater. He was released at around 8.00. He then boarded a large truck driven by prison personnel to Ngam Wong Wan Road, where his father was waiting for him.
The Bangkok Remand Prison and its vicinity has been affected by continuous heavy rain and flooding in Bangkok. As of Sunday (27 September), the prison was surrounded by deep floodwater and officials had to travel by large vehicles or boats to get in and out of the prison.
Weeraphap said that the situation inside the prison has been difficult. Due to the flood, which he said was about knee-deep inside the prison, the use of water has been limited as the prison’s power generator and water pimp are on lower grounds. All activities have been cancelled, and food and drinking water amount have been reduced.
He and other royal defamation detainees are held on the ground floor. When the cells were flooded, they were moved to the upper floor and had to sleep in the hallway.
According to TLHR, 54 people remain imprisoned on charges relating to political expression or paticipation in protests, 30 of whom are detained for royal defamation.
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