"Thai court's decision to indict migrants' rights activist a blow to human rights", 24 Aug 2015

The Bangkok South Criminal Court decided...on...24 August to  indict migrants' rights researcher and human rights defender Andy Hall in a criminal defamation and computer crimes act case filed against him by...Natural Fruit Company...The Bangkok South Criminal Court had an opportunity to put an end to a saga of intimidation already lasting 30-months aimed at nothing but gagging a human rights defender. Regrettably the Court chose instead to press on with a trial of these unfounded charges, said Sonja Vartiala, executive director of Finnwatch. The criminal defamation and computer crimes act case, to which today's decision to indict relates to, is the most severe of all the cases filed against Andy Hall, and carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment. Following todays decision, Andy Hall is expected to be summoned to appear at the court. He will then be detained awaiting trial. He will have an opportunity to seek release on bail.