Thais accused of blocking royal motorcade cleared

BANGKOK: A court in Thailand on Wednesday acquitted a student activist and four other people of impeding the motorcade of the country's queen during pro-democracy demonstrations in 2020, an offense that could have seen them sentenced to 16 years in prison or even the death penalty.

The Bangkok Criminal Court's verdict was rendered in a case brought under a little-used law that targets actions intended "to harm the liberty of the queen, the heir apparent and the regent." Legal experts were unable to recall any previous prosecutions under the law.