The U.S. ambassador to Thailand is facing a police investigation for royal defamation after criticizing jail terms under the draconian law, as ultra-nationalist sentiment surges since royalist generals seized power.
A senior Thai police source confirmed that they had received a complaint and were investigating U.S. Ambassador Glyn T. Davies’ speech delivered to international media last month.
The foreign correspondent’s club of Thailand or FCCT said it had been asked to cooperate in the probe against the ambassador.
Police are probing whether Davies’ speech “violated article 112 of the criminal code, the lese majeste law”.
Under Thai law anyone convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent can face up to 15 years in jail on each count.
But, like all foreign envoys, Ambassador Davies has diplomatic immunity so it is unlikely the probe will lead to an arrest. Thailand, however, can rescind his credentials at any time.