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Thai court finds British rights activist guilty of defamation
British rights activist handed three-year suspended sentence for defamation for his role in exposing alleged labour abuses
British lawyer and migrant workers' rights activist, Andy Hall has been found guilty of defamation by a Thai court
A British rights activist was found guilty by a Thai court on Tuesday of criminal defamation and given a three-year suspended sentence.
The Bangkok South Criminal Court found Andy Hall of the Migrant Worker Rights Network guilty of defaming pineapple wholesaler Natural Fruit Company over a 2013 report he co-author for Finland-based watchdog Finnwatch.
The report alleged labour abuses detailed at a processing plant owned by the firm and led to several companies terminating their contracts with Natural Fruits.
Rights groups have criticised Thailand's harsh defamation and cyber-crime laws on concerns about curbs on freedom of speech, according to Reuters news agency.
"The verdict against Andy Hall sends a chilling effect to the human rights community in Thailand," Sunai Phasuk, a Thailand researcher for Human Rights Watch said.
Finnwatch reportedly said it would continue to stand by Hall.
"Finnwatch was able to speak to Andy who despite this shock ruling was in relatively good spirits," Finnwatch said in a statement following the verdict.
