Alpha News

Historic Sentence: 43-Year-Old Sentenced to 50 Years in Thailand

Published February 10, 2026, 14:35

In Thailand, a man has been sentenced to a total of 50 years in prison for insulting the monarchy, in an unprecedented decision. Purithon Sarakul, 43, was found guilty of publishing messages describing the royal family on Twitter between 2021 and 2022. Thailand’s law on lese-majeste (Article 112) protects the monarchy from criticism. This is one of the heaviest sentences ever imposed in a case related to this article. Other citizens have also been sentenced to lengthy terms for similar acts, while human rights organizations denounce the law as a tool of repression.