Akechai H., male, 35 years old, was arrested and charged under article 112 in Thai criminal law - lese majeste - for being in possession of 100 illegal VCDs, a CD writer and 10 Wikileaks documents. 

 

Akechai sold legal lottery but he was unemployed when he was arrested. He just started selling VCDs following Red Siam Rally only twice. 

 

He was arrested following a rally by the Red Siam group on 10 March 2011 around 7 pm at the militia monument, Sanamluang, Phra Nakorn district, Bangkok.  The police officer pretended to be customer and bought VCDs from Akechai then the police officer arrested him. The police brought him to his place and found some more VCDs, documents and a CD writer.

 

He was allegedly found to be in possession of banned VCDs, believed to be copies of the Australian ABC programme on the monarchy. He also was accused of having these for sale without permission from video-controlled officer; according to Film and Video Act (2008).

 

11 March 2011, at Metro Police Division 1 office, Police Major General Vichai Sangprapai held the press conference about the arrest of Akechai Hongkangwarn and stated that He was arrested because of selling VCDs which contain considered-monarchy insulting content.

 

17 March 2011, Akechai was bailed out by his 82 year-old father with legal assistance from the Ratsadornprasong law office group on 17 March 2011. Bail was set at 500,000 baht.

 

23 May 2011, the Attorney General prosecuted Akechai Hongkangwarn with the accusation of “defendant distributed motion pictures, sound and messages to the public by selling VCDs, copy of the Australian ABC programme which a person who looks similarly the crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and a person who looks similarly Princess Srirasmi - the Princess Consort to the Crown Prince, appeared on and also distributed wikileaks documents which contain the insulting, defaming or threatening messages against the the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent, and the Regent including selling VCDs without permission from controlled-video officer.  

 

19 September 2011, the court will examine all evidences.