Name: Nuthanon Chaimahabut (Age 24)
Occupation: Self-employed
Case: Sedition (Article 116) for Honking a Car Horn
Date of Imprisonment: 14 February 2024
Location of Imprisonment: Department of Corrections Hospital

“Frank” Nuthanon Chaimahabut has a vocational diploma. He is the oldest child in his family and has 4 younger siblings. He has been working to support himself and his family since he was age 18 packaging products for a mobile phone company. 

Frank was once previously imprisoned. It began on the night of 30 October 2020. That day, he was simply riding his motorbike on the road in front of the Bangkok Remand Prison after eating dinner with his friends. As he was preparing to stop at a gas station, he saw a prisoner transport vehicle go past with many motorcycles following. 

He decided to continue on his way home, but his route home took him on the same path as the vehicle. The prisoner transport vehicle was trying to get through the motorcycles surrounding it and crashed into Frank in the area before reaching the Phongphetch Intersection. The vehicle dragged Frank and his motorcycle for a period causing him to be injured and his motorbike to be damaged. He didn’t know that the two people who were in the prison transport vehicle were the two protest leaders, “Penguin” and “Mike.” 

After the incident, he made a report and brought a complaint at the Thung Song Hong Police Station, but no action was taken. Instead, Nuthanon himself was prosecuted on 7 charges, including “assaulting officers” and he was held in detention after the Court did not grant him bail. Frank was held for the full 84 days possible before a person must be indicted or released. He went on hunger strike for 25 days during this period to protest the denial of bail.

The second time Frank was imprisoned was after being arrested with Tawan at 5 pm on 13 February 2024 at the Ratchada Criminal Court. They were arrested on an arrest warrant of violation of Article 116 and the Computer Crimes Act for honking a car horn at Princess Sirindthorn’s motorcade on 4 February 2024.The Court denied bail and Frank was detained. While in prison, Frank went on hunger strike calling for the right to bail for all prisoners and detainees on political cases.

Frank was released on bail on 27 May 2024.