19th October 2015: Andy Hall to plead not guilty and face detention in Natural Fruit Case

Andy Hall will soon be summoned to appear at the Bangkok South Criminal Court on 19th October 2015 to plead on the charges of computer crimes and criminal defamation that were accepted for trial by the court in a ruling issued on 24th August 2015.

The charges by Natural Fruit Company Ltd. against Andy Hall, filed in February 2013 and carrying a maximum penalty of 7 years imprisonment, relate to writing and publication of a Finnwatch research report highlighting findings from interviews with workers claiming to be from Natural Fruit Company Ltd.

Andy Hall publicly announced on 24th October following the courts acceptance of all the charges that he will plead not guilty to all the charges against him at the Bangkok South Criminal Court and will then face detention pending consideration of any bail application he chooses to submit to the court.

Hall said today:’I respect the courts decision, but I am at the same time disappointed at the courts decision. I will fight these cases respectfully through the Thai criminal justice system and am confident of victory in the end.’