Cartoonist reports to police on PM’s libel charge

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BANGKOK, June 24 – Political cartoonist Somchai Katanyutanant, widely known as Chai Rachawat, acknowledged a libel charge by Thailand’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Metropolitan Police Command in Bangkok today.

He was charged with contempt and libel against a state official through publication and violating the National Computer Act for making a libelous statement against the prime minister on his Facebook page.

According to the allegation, Mr Somchai included a photo of Ms Yingluck giving a speech in Mongolia with the inappropriate statement.

Mr Somchai denied all charges and said he would submit a written response to the complaint to investigating officers.

A group of supporters gathered at the Metropolitan Police Command to give moral support to Mr Somchai, a well-known cartoonist of the mass-circulation Thai Rath newspaper.