Court sentences Netiwit for avoiding military draft

Post Today•Politics•19h ago

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The Samut Prakan District Court sentenced Netiwit to six months in prison, suspended for one year, for avoiding the military draft.

•Netiwit was found guilty of avoiding the military draft selection under the Military Service Act.
•The Samut Prakan District Court issued the judgment on July 20, 2026.
•The six-month prison sentence was suspended for one year as Netiwit had no prior imprisonment.
•The court rejected arguments regarding the constitutionality of the law and religious/conscientious beliefs.

•On July 20, 2026, the Samut Prakan District Court read the judgment in the case against Netiwit.
•The Samut Prakan District Court ruled that Netiwit violated Sections 27 and 45 of the Military Service Act.
•The Samut Prakan District Court stated that the Constitutional Court had already ruled the Military Service Act does not contradict the constitution.
•The Samut Prakan District Court determined that religious beliefs and conscience are not legal grounds for exemption from military service.
•The Samut Prakan District Court sentenced Netiwit to six months in prison, but suspended the sentence for one year because Netiwit had no previous prison record.
•Netiwit graduated from Chulalongkorn University two years prior and received a full scholarship as a Fellow at Harvard Divinity School for one year.
•Netiwit is scheduled to organize an exhibition with students from the Harvard Graduate School of Design at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre on July 21, 2026.

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Netiwit(เนติวิทย์)

A graduate of Chulalongkorn University and a Fellow at Harvard Divinity School who was sentenced for avoiding the military draft.

Samut Prakan District Court(ศาลแขวงสมุทรปราการ)

The court that delivered the judgment against Netiwit.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights(ศูนย์ทนายความเพื่อสิทธิมนุษยชน)

The organization that disclosed the court's judgment.

Constitutional Court(ศาลรัฐธรรมนูญ)ℹ️

The court that ruled the Military Service Act is not contrary to the constitution.

Chulalongkorn University(จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย)ℹ️

The university from which Netiwit graduated.

Harvard Divinity Schoolℹ️

The institution that provided Netiwit a full scholarship to study as a Fellow for one year.

Harvard University(มหาวิทยาลัยฮาร์วาร์ด)ℹ️

The university in the United States where Harvard Divinity School is located.

Harvard Graduate School of Designℹ️

The school whose students will collaborate with Netiwit for an exhibition.

Military Service Act(พระราชบัญญัติรับราชการทหาร)

The law under which Netiwit was found guilty of avoiding military draft selection.

Bangkok Art and Culture Centre(หอศิลปวัฒนธรรมแห่งกรุงเทพมหานคร)ℹ️

The venue for the exhibition scheduled for July 21, 2026.