Home » Narissarawan Keawnopparat will submit a letter to the Attorney General for 2nd time For being charged

Narissarawan Keawnopparat will submit a letter to the Attorney General for 2nd time For being charged

For immediate release on 15 March 2017

Press Release Narissarawan Keawnopparat will submit a letter of petition to the Attorney General for second time For being charged of defamation and violation of Computer Crime Act

On 16 March 2017 at 10.00am, Ms. Narissarawan Keawnopparat aka “May” and her attorneys would go to the Office of Attorney General at the Chaeng Wattana Government Complex (A Building) to submit to the Attorney General a letter of petition. It has stemmed from her being charged for defamation and violation of the Computer Crime Act in the criminal case no. 773/2558, The case was reported to the police at the Muang Narathiwat Police Station and it has led to her being arrested per the warrant issued by the Provincial Court of Narathiwat on 26 July 2016. The arrest took place at her office at the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) in Bangkok. She was later released on bail.

On 14 March 2017, Ms. Narissarawan has heard from the Deputy Commander of the Southern Border Provinces Police Operation Center that he had submitted an argument contrary to that of the public prosecutor. The police authority deems it fit to have the case prosecuted for “committing a libelous offence by disseminating or sharing the information in computer network, knowing full well that it was forged computer data which might cause damage to other persons or the public and further investigation should be made on five issues after which the investigation report should be submitted to the Attorney General for the final decision”

The case has stemmed from an incidence in which Private Wichean Phuaksom, her uncle, had died from physical abuse in 2011 at the Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Military Camp, Jao Ai Rong District, Narathiwat province. Ms. Narissarawan on behalf of her family has been struggling to demand justice in this case. Eventually, after five years of investigation by the inquiry official and the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), Capt Phuri Perksophon has been identified as a suspect.

On 18 December 2015, Capt Phuri Perksophon has, however, reported the case with the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) alleging that Ms. Narissarawan had posted a message and a photo that had impaired his reputation. The inquiry official of the Muang Narathiwat Police Station has later pressed her with two charges concerning “committing a libelous offence by importing to a computer system forged computer data, either in whole or in part, or false computer data, in a manner that is likely to cause damage to a third party or the public and disseminating or sharing computer data, knowing full well that it was forged computer data” and the inquiry official has later proposed to the public prosecutor to have her case indicted with the Court on both charges.

Later on 5 October 2016, the public prosecutor of Narathiwat has decided to not prosecute Ms. Narissarawan on all charges, but the case has to be sent for a review of the Commander of the Southern Border Provinces Police Operation Center per the NCPO Order no. 115/2557.

Ms. Narissarawan is scheduled to submit a letter of petition to the Attorney General on 16 March 2017 at 10.00 am at the Office of Attorney General, the Government Complex, Rajaburi Direkriddhi Building (A Building), 2nd floor, Chaengwattana Rd. Lak Si, Bangkok. She would bring with her all relevant evidence to be submitted to the Attorney General to ensure that the decision on the prosecution is made fairly.

Please note that Section 8 of the Computer Crime Act (no. 2) BE 2560 (2017) which shall become effective in 24 May 2017, will have made it impossible to hold a person liable for defamation as a result of importing to computer system any computer data.

All reporters and interested persons are invited to observe the meeting.