Thai police detained and questioned the wife of a Scottish journalist today after he shared photos on social media that may violate Thailand’s strict lese majeste laws.
Thai police are questioning the wife of a Scottish journalist today over his social media links to unflattering photos alleged to be of a Thai royal figure.
Detectives said the photos were fake and have detained Noppawan Bunluesilp, 39, the Thai wife of former Bangkok-based correspondent, and strident Thai monarchy critic, Andrew MacGregor Marshall, at a police station in the capital over her husband’s posts linking to the pictures.
The journalist and his wife no longer live in Thailand but Noppawan returned to visit her family this week.
Each charge of lese majeste — insults, threats or defamation of Thailand’s royals — carries up to 15 years in jail.
“The pictures were doctored,” said Thitirat Nongharnpitak, commander of Central Investigation Bureau (CIB).
Police have confiscated a laptop, iPad and other documents from the home where Noppawan was staying, Thitirat said.
In addition to being an outspoken critic of the monarchy, Marshall has written a book on the subject which is banned inside the kingdom.
Marshall’s wife was shown on television arriving at Crime Suppression Division carrying her young son in one arm.
“It’s a huge shock,” he told AFP from Hong Kong about his wife’s questioning.
“The key point is my wife is not involved at all in my journalism.”
“We’d always been concerned that it might be dangerous for my wife to visit Thailand, especially since the military coup, but she hadn’t seen her family for a couple of years,” Marshall said.
Marshall posted on social media at 3pm today that his wife has been released.
Story: AFP
