Arnon Nampa jail term tops 34 years in Thailand

Thai protest leader Arnon Nampa's total jail term is now more than 34 years after a court sentenced him on Friday in another lese majeste case, his lawyer said.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights said Arnon and four others were sentenced to two years and eight months under the law, which shields Thailand's royal family from criticism.

Krisadang Nutcharut, a lawyer representing Arnon, confirmed the ruling and said the charges stemmed from a 2020 protest in front of Siam Commercial Bank headquarters.

Arnon, a 42-year-old human rights lawyer, became prominent during youth-led protests in 2020 that called for reforms to Thailand's military-drafted constitution and monarchy. He has been jailed since 2023 on multiple royal insult convictions linked to the protests and to social media posts.

Krisadang said three of the five people sentenced on Friday were already serving separate royal insult sentences. He criticised the use of the law, saying it had become a political tool.

Krisadang said Arnon had called for more transparency over a transfer of shares in Siam Commercial Bank from the Crown Property Bureau. SCBx, the bank's parent company, says on its website that King Vajiralongkorn is its largest shareholder, with a 23.6 percent stake.