Swiss Dis Could Mean 75 Years In Thai Jail

Man Pleads Guilty To Spray-Painting Portraits Of Thailand's King

(AP)  A Swiss man accused of insulting this nation's monarchy by spray-painting over several portraits of the revered king pleaded guilty Monday and faces a maximum 75-year prison sentence.

Oliver Rudolf Jufer, 57, was caught by surveillance cameras on Dec. 5 spray-painting black paint over several portraits of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in the northern city of Chiang Mai, police said. His lawyer said he was intoxicated during the act.

The vandalism coincided with Bhumibol's 79th birthday, which was celebrated across Thailand with fireworks and prayers. The king is the world's longest serving monarch.

Jufer made no comment as he entered the courthouse with his legs chained, dressed in an orange prison uniform.

Judge Chaikrit Devaplin said Jufer pleaded guilty, reversing an initial statement of non-guilt that he had made to police, and a sentence was expected to be issued March 29.

The trial was closed to the public, and prosecutors declined to discuss details of the case because of sensitivities in Thailand about portraying the beloved king in a negative light.

"Revealing the details of this case does not benefit anybody because it involves the king and the monarchy," said prosecutor Bhanu Kwanyuen, adding only that Jufer is accused of defacing five posters and faces a penalty of between three and 15 years in prison for each one.

"In every Thai constitution, the king is revered and worshipped, and he cannot be insulted," Bhanu said. "Thai people cannot accept this act of insulting the king."

Jufer has lived in Thailand for more than 10 years, and lives in Chiang Mai, said his court-appointed lawyer, Komkhit Kunyodying.

The military launched a separate investigation into the incident, saying Jufer's act raised suspicion that he was hired by someone opposed to the Sept. 19 coup that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Chiang Mai, about 350 miles north of Bangkok, is Thaksin's hometown and a key base of support for the former prime minister.

Millions of portraits of the king were erected late last year to honor his birthday. Across the kingdom, people also wore yellow shirts, a sign of devotion to the king.

[passerby2]

mitch,

I was not the one who "reported" another's comment because I didn't like what i read. you claim freedom of speech but once you hear something you don't like you try to shut them up. and i don't usually use profanity, but in either case profanity is still protected by freedom of speech. I was not referring to you in the first place when i used the f-word. so get off your high horse and get over yourself, i'm not here to bump egos. backing off?

are you gonna hunt me down and body slam me or challenge me to a trivia to prove your supremacy?

get a life, I don't have anymore time to waste with you. and you can have the last word after this.

[ubikvalis2]

To PTBRetired:

"first to UbikValis2, Thailand does have child pornography laws, but they hesitate to charge in most of the cases unless it makes headlines."

I was not making a point about child pornography laws in THAILAND. I was making a point about how it's hypocritical for Americans to complain about draconian laws elsewhere, since doing the wrong thing in the United States, which directly harms no one (of course INDIRECTLY does great harm which is why it carries the penalties that it does) has exactly the same result.

[mitch0927]

passerby2 ,

You opened the door by being insulting, and if you dish it out, you have to take it. I have plenty of brains and use them well, and it doesn't include bashing people and trying to act tough in one moment and then back off because they feel threatened by their own actions. This was about a person who broke a law he knew was wrong and having to deal with the consequences. You're the one who started with the name calling and putting labels on people you don't even know. If you want to compare brain strengths, then I am more than willing to prove that too. It has nothing to do with an argument, it has to do with insulting remarks, and like I said, you dish it out, you better be able to back up what you say.

[passerby2]

oh sure mitch,

now you gonna throw your size around to boost your ego. 6'5 240 lbs aint nothing, but even with all that weight and size if you don't have the brains to handle it then it's nothing. i've seen them get knocked don't all the time by smaller guys. i've read alot about guys like you, who can't handle an argument and resort to physical violence, so immature and barbaric. I would never put up my dukes with you cause i'm not a violent guy.

[pakaal]

Whatever he was smoking when he did that must have been really good stuff, 'cause no one I know who's been to Thailand would possibly be stupid enough to denigrate the King. I've heard plenty of stories of guys ripping up baht notes (with the King's portrait on them) or dissing the King in some other way, and then getting the *** kicked out of them or worse. He's tremendously revered by the people (and they by him).

I feel sorry for this guy going into a Thai jail for this offence, I really do.

[mitch0927]

HypnoToad72,

Cool name by the way. It is hard to pin-point the Pride in America anymore. Guess it has to do with the ability to travel anywhere in the US without being stopped at every border being asked for "My Papers"...or being able to stay in any hotel, just as long as I can pay for it, or camp out in the country if I chose to. Paying the higher taxes is starting to be a pain, but it is neccessary I guess. The price of fuel is getting a little out of hand, but checking around, the US is still less expensive than a lot of other places I've been to. I am also part Native American, and I could whine about the treatment to the Native Americans, but then I would but I am not full blooded, so I would just be complaining to myself..lol.

[hypnotoad72]

Hey mitch0927 - are America's corporations not proud to be American? Look at all the things they've been moving off shore for decades now. ;)

I also know many American workers who say the same thing... yet gripe about their employers giving them rough treatment. "If you don't like your job, leave." is also said by many. Including those who say "If you don't like America, leave." Yet they're not leaving their jobs and prefer to complain about it instead... (I love mine and would leave if I didn't like it, but listening to those sods whine about their condition doesn't do me much good either. But since they clearly don't like theirs, why haven't they left? There must be something they like that's keeping them to stay.)

Indeed, what is "pride" anymore anyway?

As with the rest of my response, it's clear I have no clue and any attempt to connect any dots together reveals a big... squiggly line thing. And that's where I'm asking for your input; define pride and the criteria for staying or leaving.

[mitch0927]

passerby2,

I can handle it, it is actually constructive criticism, but when you throw in foul language, it is not considered free speech, then you are getting personal. I've read about creeps like you, trying to start something by being a bully behind your monitor, but I doubt seriously that you would ever speak to me like that in person, because the little part is far from it. 6'5" 240. So you just stay behind your little computer being a bully in your fantasy land, calling people names, and stay away from the real world, because it would crush you like the little insect you are.

[passerby2]

hey mitch,

please don't tell your mommy that i called you a communist and a hypocrite, i don't want to get into trouble with your mommmy, hahahahahaha
LOSER!

[passerby2]

hey mitch,
for someone who claims to be so proud of being an american, you sure can't handle criticism and my freedom of speech. do you even know what it means to have freedom of speech or does it only mean freedom when people agree with you, what are you somekind of confused communist, you little hypocrite.

[jbinthe757]

my fiance is Thai, and shes the most decent, beautiful person i have ever met. to offend her king, is to offend me. im not in the usa right now. im in kosovo, serbia. that dude is garbage and i think he knows it.

[mitch0927]

jbinthe757 ,

Thanks....I see the point in commenting on these articles, but to be lashed upon says exactly that. Never been out of the USA....

[jbinthe757]

markjessup, dude i just reported two of your comments to cbs, bye bye, creep!

[mitch0927]

MITYWHITY,

Exactly. His excuse (and he even thought it was a poor one) was that he was drunk. The man had lived there for ten years and of course should have known better. I have been to Thailand, and it is a beautiful place. Yes it has its problems, just like every country does, but they have their laws and they have to be followed. Especially if you are not from there, because the police and military are looking harder at the foreigners closer than their own in certain cases.

[jbinthe757]

King Bhumibol is a murderer and a rapist he must be taken out of power.............
Posted by markjessup at 03:37 PM : Mar 12, 2007

Mark you sad clown, you have never been to thailand, probably never been out of the usa, its creeps like you that put americans all over the world in a bad light. what do you think that swiss guy was doin in thailand? more than likely had his hands up some little girls skirt. dude, how is prison life goin for you...loser?

[nolalou]

I just read where King Bhumibol was born in the USA and educated in Switzerland. You would think with that background, he'd have some apprication of freedom of speach. I don't care how great a leader or human being he may be, nobody should put themselves above critisim. Who does he think he is , god or something? Sorry, but a king is not a god! I'm lucky I'm in the USA writing this, or I might be sentenced next!

[mitywhity]

When in Rome, do as the Romans....we should have no input on his fate and he should face the judgement.

[mitch0927]

passerby2,

You know that is something people are getting tired of seeing Your negativity and foul language. I just requested you to be removed (your username) anyway, because you seem to be a person with serious issues. If you're not proud to be an American, then leave.

[hober_mallow]

I think people have to realise that when we visit foreign countries (or even different states, cities, or provinces, etc.) is that we are a GUEST.

The local folks have built up traditions and laws over a number of years, whether that place is Thailand, Paris, or even Birmingham, Alabama.

As a visitor, it is dependent on YOU to find out what the local taboos are.

There was a young man who was caned (I think it was in Thailand) because he spit his gum out on the sidewalk. Now, obviously, wherever that was, the local populace takes their cleanliness very seriously.

Same thing in this instance of spray painting over the King's picture.

By the way, I'm not nearly the world traveler that many people are, but not matter where I was, I don't think wielding cans of spray paint would be a very good idea. Even if examples of grafitti were spewn everywhere.

I just hope the Thais have enough sense to let this Swiss go before he dies.

And, by the way, I HAVE been to Switzerland and I can tell you that the Swiss have a set of unwritten rules that all are expected to abide by.

[passerby2]

we're talking about a man's life for a f8ucking painting. whoever made up that law should be shot.