Anchan Preelert

In January 2015, Anchan was arrested by military officers under orders of the ruling military junta led by General Prayut Chan-O-Cha, the National Council for Peace and Order.^[2] She spent the following 3 years and 9 months in detention, initially at a military camp in Kanchanaburi and subsequently at Central Women's Correctional Institution, when her case was transferred to the civilian courts.^[2]

In 2021, Anchan was convicted of 29 counts of royal defamation under Thailand's lese-majeste law. Each count carried a prison sentence of 3 years, a total of 87 years.^[3][4] After pleading guilty, her sentence was reduced to 43.6 years, the longest sentence yet for violating the lese-majeste law.^[5][6] This was later surpassed by Mongkol Thirakot 50-year sentence for violating the lese majeste law in 2024.^[7][8]

Anchan's sentence was condemned by global human rights groups, including Amnesty International Thailand.^[9]

On 26 August 2025, Anchan's lawyers announced she had received a royal pardon and would be released on 27 August 2025, after serving almost 8 years.^[2][10]