Author jailed for insulting Thai royals

A THAI court yesterdayjailed an Australian writer for three years for insulting the royal family in a novel.

Harry Nicolaides, 41, arrived in a Bangkok court with his feet shackled and pleaded guilty to the charges related to a passage in a book, Verisimilitude, he self-published in 2005.

“He has written a book, that slandered the king, the crown prince of Thailand and the monarchy,” the judge told the court.

“He was found guilty under criminal law article 112 and the court has sentenced him to six years, but due to his confession, which is beneficial to the case, the sentence is reduced to three years,” the judge said.

A gaunt-looking Nicolaides — who has already been in custody for nearly five months — told reporters as he left the court after sentencing that he felt “dreadful”, adding: “I wish my family the best.”

His lawyer and relatives said he will seek a royal pardon for the sentence, with Nicolaides’ brother, Forde, describing the family as devastated.

“It’s quite devastating for us. The whole case has been a massive emotional ordeal that has consumed our entire family. It’s beyond belief.”

Nicolaides said before his hearing: “I was aware there were obscure laws (about the monarchy) but I didn’t think they would apply to me.”