An Australian author and teacher jailed for three years for insulting Thailand's crown prince has applied for a royal pardon.
The case against 41-year-old Harry Nicolaides, who was sentenced on Monday over his little-read 2005 novel, is one of a number of lese-majeste investigations in Thailand,
Nicolaides's lawyer gave no details of the pardon request, other than to say it was lodged with the palace on Wednesday.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said he had written to Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya to express the government's "strong support" for Nicolaides's request for a pardon.
Lese-majeste, or insulting the monarchy, is a very serious offence in Thailand, where many people regard 81-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej as semi-divine.
It is punishable by up to 15 years in prison although convictions, especially of foreigners, are rare and are normally followed quickly by a pardon.
A Swiss man was sentenced to 10 years in 2007 for spraying black paint on pictures of the king but was pardoned at Thai New Year in mid-April after serving only four months. Jufer was deported as soon as he was released.
Reuters