Awwal 06, 1432, Feb 09, 2011, SPA-- The conviction of a woman sentenced for defaming the monarchy has been overturned because it was never determined whether it was legal for her trial to be closed, AP reported. Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul, also known as Da Torpedo, was convicted in August 2009 for speeches she made at an anti-government rally in 2008. Thailand's strict lese majeste law mandates a jail term for «whoever defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir to the throne or the regent.» Daranee had asked the trial court to forward her petition for an open trial to the Constitutional Court. The Appeals Court ruled Wednesday that failure to forward the petition invalidated the trial, and that the Constitutional Court should now determine if a closed trial was constitutional. -- SPA
