A JOURNALIST and a freelance photographer who were arrested yesterday (Feb. 12) on charges of supporting the spraying of an anti-Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or lese majeste law, message on the outside wall of the Temple of Emerald Buddha last year have been bailed out at 35,000 baht each, Matichon newspaper said this evening (Feb. 13).
Arrest warrants for Mr. Nuttaphol Meksobhon, a Prachatai reporter, and Mr. Nattaphon Phanphongsanon, a freelance photographer, were issued on May 22, 2023 over the incident on March 26, 2023, whereby Mr. Sutthawee Soikham, or Bang Aern, 24, an artist from Khon Kaen, spray-painted an anarchist symbol and the number 112 on this wall of Wat Phra Kaew then crossed it out.
A 15-year-old girl at the scene was also arrested with police later saying she was wanted on lese majeste charges in connection with a demonstration held the previous year.
After they were bailed the two media persons who were wearing T-shirts with the slogan “Journalism is not a crime” gave an interview to the press.
Nattaphon said he was uncertain whether it was the day before the graffiti spraying incident or the same day that he went to the Supreme Court to cover activists standing to demand stopping detention and there was normal conversation with other journalists.
He added that he only found out about the graffiti spraying incident 10 minutes before it happened and did not obstruct the work of officers while positioning himself as having come to work and it should have been clear that was what he was doing.
Nuttaphol confirmed that he went to cover the news and not participate in the activity at the temple wall. He added that he gets messages to cover events and selects the ones to do so and was not there to promote or support the activist.
CAPTION:
The two media persons after they were released on bail late afternoon today, Feb. 13, 2024. Photo: Matichon
Read earlier report:
Journalist, photographer remanded in custody
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