Writer jailed for insulting Thai monarchy

An Australian writer was jailed for three years by a Thai court today on a charge of insulting Thailand’s royal family in his 2005 novel.

Bangkok’s Criminal Court initially sentenced Harry Nicolaides to six years behind bars but reduced the term because he had pleaded guilty.

Nicolaides was charged with insulting Thailand’s king and crown prince in his book Verisimilitude.

The presiding judge said today that passages “suggested that there was abuse of royal power”.

Insulting the monarchy in Thailand carries a jail term of three to 15 years.

A Swiss man was convicted of the same offence last year and given a 10-year prison sentence. He was pardoned by the king after serving about a month behind bars.