- Important case
Amornchotsingh : Had a fight cause from pink shirt
Latest Update: 08/10/2017
Defendant
Amornchotsingh
Case Status
Under investigation
Case Started
2016
Complainant / Plaintiff
No information
Table of Content
On 24 October 2016 while Amornchotsingh was shopping in a shopping mall, some strangers harassed him asked why he wore a pink shirt. They then had an argument. Amornchotsingh was later charged with Lese Majeste and he was accused of insulting King Rama IX because of his statement that the death of the late king has nothing to do with him.
During the interrogation, Amornchotsingh was held under police custody for almost 2 days. On the second day, the police together with the military searched his houses and confiscated his documents, CPU, iPad and his mobile phone. Amornchotsingh was released on bail by the Thonburi Criminal Court after he filed a bail petition along with 250,000 Baht cash deposit
Defendant Background
Amornchot Singh is a Thai Indian cloth seller. He is a breadwinner for his family (i.e. one wife, one adopted child, and ageing parents). Amornchot follows Thailand’s political situations from time to time. Yet, he has never had any active role in the movement or been in contact with any activist before.
Offense
Article 112 Criminal Code, Others
Destroy private property
Allegation
According to the petition filed by the police officer fpre pre-trial detention, it was reported that around 7.30 pm. on 24th October 2016, Amornchotsingh was doing some shopping at Big C Super Center (Itsaraphap Branch), two men came and asked him “Why do you put on the pink shirt today? Don’t you know what happened to our country right now? My King (i.e. late king) has just passed away, are you trying to defy my King who recently passed away?”. Amornchot was alleged that he responded to the questions of the two men in the sense that the death of the King had nothing to do with him and he scolded a few bad words on those men.
Once the two men heard such responses from Amornchotsingh, they then challenged him to fight in front of the Big C Super Center, meanwhile he decided to call the police (191) to prevent the fight. However, Amornchotsingh was arrested because he damaged Big C's basket by throwing it in the presence of the police officer who came at the scene. Unprecedentedly, it turned out that Amornchot was also accused of the violation of the lese majeste law for insulting the King as reported by those men whom he had quarrels with.
Circumstance of Arrest
On 24 October 2016, it was reported that the police came to cool down the quarrel regarding the shirt color between Amornchotsingh and the other two men. Afterwards, the police officers invited them for a talk at Buppharam police station (i.e. investigating the situation). During the investigation by the police, Amornchotsingh was detained for a couple of days.
Trial Observation
No information
Black Case
No information
Court
Thonburi Criminal Court
Additional Info
No information
Reference
No information
24 October 2016
According to the petition filed by the police officer fpre pre-trial detention, it was reported that around 7.30 pm. on 24th October 2016, Amornchotsingh was doing some shopping at Big C Super Center (Itsaraphap Branch), two men came and asked him “Why do you put on the pink shirt today? Don’t you know what happened to our country right now? My King (i.e. late king) has just passed away, are you trying to defy my King who recently passed away?”. Amornchot was alleged that he responded to the questions of the two men in the sense that the death of the King had nothing to do with him and he scolded a few bad words on those men.
Once the two men heard such responses from Amornchotsingh, they then challenged him to fight in front of the Big C Super Center, meanwhile he decided to call the police (191) to prevent the fight. However, Amornchotsingh was arrested because he damaged Big C's basket by throwing it in the presence of the police officer who came at the scene. Unprecedentedly, it turned out that Amornchot was also accused of the violation of the lese majeste law for insulting the King as reported by those men whom he had quarrels with.
According to what has been told by Amornchotsingh, after work, he came back home and changed his clothes into pink shirt and floral pants. But then, he was asked by his kids' babysitter to buy diapers for his kids. So, he needed to go to the Big C with that shirt without changing. When Amornchotsingh went to the Big C Super Center, he felt being watched by someone, but kept walking towards the commodity shelves. The two men then approached him and asked “Why do you put on the pink shirt today? Don’t you know what happened to our country right now? My King (i.e. late king) has just passed away, are you trying to defy my King who recently passed away?”. In response to those men, Amornchot said only “Who are you? why do I have to go? Do you have any authority in forcing me that way?”. His response was not like that alleged by the petition filed for remanding him in custody.
Soon after his replies to the two men, Amornchotsingh and the two men had quarrels with each other before he threw the basket on the floor. The police officers later came to the scene, asking why he wore the shirt in this color, and whether he knew how sensitive this was. Then, he was brought to Buppharam police station for resolving the dispute and was informed by the police officer that he was charged in two offenses: damage property and defamation. After that, the Big C Super Center also sent the representatives to claim damages from Amornchotsingh for the basket. As a result of this, he was remained in custody at Buppharam police station.
25 October 2016
Around 12.00 pm, the police officers came jointly with military authorities to search Amornchot’s residential house by power of the Head of NCPO Order No. 3/2558. His certain documents, Computer PC, mobile phone, and iPad were all confiscated, and then he himself was also brought by the officers to conduct another search his location in Phetkasem. Later in the evening, Amornchotsingh was additionally charged with an offense of lese majeste. The officer submitted details of the charge to him for reading as well as informed about his rights as an accuse, but they did not ask whether he would like to be accompanied by lawyers or not. Nonetheless, Amornchotsingh refused all charges claimed against him.
On the same day, Amornchot’s family attempted to bail him out, but they could not make it since the bail bond was not sufficient to do so. This made him remain in custody for one more night.
26 October 2016
After being held in custody for nearly 48 hours as prescribed by law, Amornchotsingh was brought to Thonburi Criminal Court by the police officer in the submission of request for pre-trial detention.
Subsequently, he was temporarily release by the court order, after his family deposited 250,000 Baht bail bond.
18 January 2017,
The public prosecutor scheduled to hear the prosecution order. Amornchotsingh reported to the prosecutor at the court in the morning and the prosecutor told that he will postpone to issue an order later.
Verdict
No information