Fridae

Champion boxer Sirimongkol Singwancha was convicted and sentenced by a district court on Tuesday for taking part in publicising obscenity.

A recent police raid on newsstands led the boxer's full frontal images to be found in Heat, a magazine reputed to feature nude images targeted at gay men.

In light of his cooperation with the investigation, the court reduced his fine from Bt6,000 fine to Bt4,000, and suspended his six-month jail term for two years on the condition of good behaviour during the suspension period.

In an interview with a local publication, Sirimongkol said he was paid about Bt200,000 (approx US$4,800) for the photo set.

In related news, The Bangkok Post reported last week that the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) has blacklisted about 20 Thai-language websites featuring lewd pictures and offering pornographic video CDs for sale.

The CSD is said to have expanded its investigation to identify and arrest owners and operators of the web sites. A newly formed 15-member information and computer-related crime division will also look for ways to prevent porn video clips being downloaded on mobile phones.

CSD commander Vinai Thongsong said that his team has already blacklisted 20 locally run sites. Foreign sites would however be exempt as they were not subject to Thailand's Criminal Code.

New regulations include requiring buyers of pornographic movie VCDs to register via the Internet and pay for the goods in advance through bank accounts specified by the webmasters.

The CSD added that offenders who are caught selling pornographic products through their web sites could be arrested and charged with conspiring to sell lewd materials under article 287 of the Criminal Code - an offence punishable by a three-year prison term and/or a fine of BT6,000.