Further worrying developments unfold in the trial of human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa, who is being prosecuted for comments made regarding the monarchy. In 2024, the Criminal Court had refused to issue subpoenas for evidence, explaining that the requested evidence would “violate” the “inviolable” King. Arnon protested by removing his t-shirt. The Court subsequently ordered a secret trial and threatened people who failed to leave the courtroom with detention. The Court also imposed a gag order on news dissemination, threatening prospective violators with a contempt of court charge and charged Arnon with contempt of court.
On 28 March 2025, the Criminal Court read the verdict in Arnon’s contempt of court case in secret, in the arraignment room on the 1st floor, in the absence of members of the public and Mr. Arnon’s family. It is important to note that the Thai Criminal Procedure Code explicitly requires that judgments be read in “open court.” The law does not provide any exceptions or provisions allowing the court to exercise discretion in reading a verdict in secret.