A human rights campaigner facing jail after accusing a major fruit company of worker abuse has won the latest round in his courtroom battle.
Andy Hall was back in court in Thailand last week after Natural Fruit appealed against his previous acquittal on criminal defamation charges.
But the not guilty verdict was upheld and the appeal dismissed.
Natural Fruit, which supplies fruit juice to the UK and US, has no further right of appeal on the charges.
Andy, who is from Spalding and whose family still live here, faces further criminal defamation and computer related charges and is due back in court in October.
This is the most serious of four separate case brought against him by Natural Fruit, including two for damages, and if found guilty he could face a maximum of seven years in prison in Thailand.
All the charges relate to a report Andy co-authored on behalf of Finnwatch, which exposed labour rights violations at the Natural Fruit pineapple processing plant.
Speaking after last week’s appeal hearing, Finnwatch executive director Sonja Vartiala said: “We are relieved and glad about the court decision and that the legality of the previous dismissal has been upheld.
“Case is now closed.”
Finnwatch and hundreds of other civil society organisations have appealed for the criminal proceedings against Andy to be dropped, and for the Thai authorities to bring Natural Fruit to justice for the alleged labour rights violations at their pineapple processing plant.
Speaking to the Voice last month, Andy’s sister Jo Clay said she feared for her brother but said he was “staying strong and positive” in light of the charges he faces under Thailand’s “draconian laws”
