Thailand granted a royal pardon to numerous prisoners on 27/8 in celebration of King Maha Vajiralongkorn's birthday. Among those released was Anchan Preelert, who received one of the longest lese majeste sentences in recent history.

The 69-year-old former civil servant was arrested in 2015 for sharing YouTube videos from a podcast host known as "DJ Banpodj". The videos contained content critical of the Thai monarchy. She was sentenced to 43 years in prison in 2021.

Anchan Preelert upon her release in Bangkok, Thailand, on 27/8. Photo: AFP

Anchan Preelert upon her release in Bangkok, Thailand, on 27/8. Photo: AFP

Anchan's original sentence was 87 years for 29 counts of lese majeste. This was later reduced to 43 years after she pleaded guilty. After serving approximately 8 years, she was released from the Central Women's Correctional Institution in Bangkok, along with 84 other inmates.

"I was there for 8 years. It was a bitter experience," Anchan told reporters as she left the prison, bowing to a crowd of supporters holding "Welcome back" signs.

Article 112 of Thailand's criminal code, known as the lese majeste law, stipulates that anyone who "defames, insults, or threatens the king, the queen, the heir-apparent, or the regent" faces 3 to 15 years imprisonment.

In 2024, Mongkol Thirakot, a 32-year-old online retailer, received a 50-year sentence for Facebook posts deemed insulting to the monarchy.

Ngoc Anh (AFP)