Name: Macky (Age 29)
Occupation: Self-employed
Case: Lèse Majesté (Article 112) – Computer Crimes Act from Posting to Twitter
Date of Imprisonment: 14 January 2024
Location of Imprisonment: Klong Prem Prison

Macky, a sexually-diverse person, is from Yasothon Province. Their family are rice and cassava farmers. They came to work in Bangkok when they were 18. They have worked at a restaurant and signed a contract to work in a hotel, but then the COVID-19 pandemic occurred and they were let go. They then had to work as a freelancer in shopping malls and tried to send 3,000 – 4,000 baht home each month.

Macky was arrested by the Special Branch Police. During the police investigation, their mobile telephone was seized. They were unable to contact anyone. Then Macky was taken to Thong Lor Police Station for an arrest record to be made. At that time they were accused of violation of Article 112 and Article 4 of the Computer Crimes Act. They were interrogated without having a lawyer present.

Macky subsequently learned that the accusations arose from 18 tweets they made in the period between December 2022 to October 2023. Out of fear, they told the police to show them the tweets and then they would sign in acknowledgment. 

Macky was detained at the Thong Lor Police Station for two nights. On the afternoon of 22 October 2023, they were taken by the police to request remand from the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court. The Court approved the remand and denied them bail. This caused Macky to be detained in the Bangkok Remand Prison from that day forward.

On 14 March 2024, the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court sentenced Macky to imprisonment for lèse majesté case under Article 112 of the Criminal Code and Article 14 of the Computer Crimes Act from posting 18 tweets about the institution of the monarchy between December 2022 and October 2023. They were sentenced to 3 years per count on 18 counts, for total imprisonment of 50 years. 

Macky confessed. The Court therefore reduced the punishment in half to 25 years; there was no suspension of punishment. After having been detained in the Bangkok Remand Prison since the investigation stage, they were transferred to Klong Prem Prison, which is where those with sentences greater than 15 years are held.