BANGKOK, June 24 – Political cartoonist Somchai Katanyutanant, widely known as Chai Rachawat, acknowledged a libel charge by Thailand’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Metropolitan Police Command in Bangkok today.
He was charged with contempt and libel against a state official through publication and violating the National Computer Act for making a libelous statement against the prime minister on his Facebook page.
According to the allegation, Mr Somchai included a photo of Ms Yingluck giving a speech in Mongolia with the inappropriate statement.
Mr Somchai denied all charges and said he would submit a written response to the complaint to investigating officers.
A group of supporters gathered at the Metropolitan Police Command to give moral support to Mr Somchai, a well-known cartoonist of the mass-circulation Thai Rath newspaper.
