Jakrapob faces lese majeste charge

Police have completed the report recommending the prosecution of Jakrapob on a key charge of violating Article 112 of the Criminal Code and placed him under the custody of the Office of the Attorney General during the pre-trial preparations.

If found guilty, Jakrapob would face a prison term ranging from three to 15 years.

In the police report, he is accused of offending the monarchy in a speech made to the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand. At the time he was an anti-coup activist.

Jakrapob claimed yesterday he was offered a deal to end his opposition to the Democrat-led coalition in exchange for the dropping of the lese majeste charge.

"I have been contacted to stop my activities so as to elude prosecution," he said. He refused to reveal details of the offer though he made it clear he had declined the deal.

He said he would fight to the full extent of the law in order to clear his name.

Jakrapob was speaking after reporting to public prosecutors to surrender himself to custody during the pre-trial preparations.

Chief prosecutor Kaiyasit Phitsawongprakarn said the prosecution review on deciding whether to try Jakrapob would be completed on March 5.