BANGKOK - A THAI man could face up to 15 years in prison after he was arrested for selling copies of a controversial Australian documentary about Thailand's royal family, police said on Tuesday.
Eakachai Hongkangwan, 35, was charged under Thailand's strict lese majeste rules which prohibit insulting the kingdom's revered monarchy, after undercover police arrested him with CDs containing the programme in Bangkok on March 10.
'He was charged on two counts - the lese majeste and selling CDs without official permission,' said Lieutenant Colonel Nattakorn Kumsap of Chanasongkram police.
'Under the law he faces between three and 15 years in prison,' he added.
Thailand's monarchy is an extremely sensitive subject in the politically divided nation, which is looking to hold elections in the coming months as it recovers from deadly street protests in April and May 2010.
The documentary was broadcast by the state-funded Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) last April in the midst of a military crackdown on the anti-government 'Red Shirt' demonstrations. -- AFP
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