Thai editor loses final appeal over royal slur conviction

Thailand's highest court Wednesday upheld a royal defamation conviction against an online newspaper editor who fell foul of the draconian law after failing to speedily remove reader comments deemed critical of the monarchy.

The ruling comes as junta-run Thailand undergoes an unprecedented lese majeste crackdown, with convictions rocketing and record breaking jail sentences handed down as authorities broaden their interpretation of the law.

Chiranuch Premchaiporn, editor of the popular Prachatai news portal, was initially charged over 10 reader comments posted on the website in 2008.

She was convicted by Thailand's Criminal Court in 2012 which found that while she had not personally committed lese majeste, the 20 days she had taken to remove one of the comments fell foul of the law.

The case drew widespread international condemnation at the time, including from Google which described it as a "serious threat" to Internet freedom in Thailand.

Wednesday's final ruling upheld the 2012 conviction that carried an eight month suspended jail sentence and 20,000 baht ($550) fine. 

"I am disappointed with the verdict and I think the interpretation of the law has pushed a burden onto service operators," Chiranuch told AFP after the ruling.

Thailand has one of the world's harshest royal defamation laws. 

Anyone convicted of insulting the revered but ailing 88-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or the queen, heir or regent can face up to 15 years in jail on each count.