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A Thai court has a U.S. citizen a 30-month prison sentence for insulting the country’s . Former car salesman Lerpong Wichaikhammat, aka Joe Gordon, received the term for translating parts of a book on Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej and then the translations on Facebook. He did all this at his home in Colorado five years ago, but was in Bangkok earlier this year. Mr Gordon was born in Thailand but has the past 30 years living in the USA. He returned to the land of his to get medical help for his high blood . Thailand has very laws for anyone who insults the monarchy. Last month, a 61-year-old Thai man was sentenced to 20 years for messages that insulted the king.

The book Mr Gordon partially into Thai is an unauthorized and critical of Thailand's monarch called “The King Never Smiles”. It was written by journalist Paul Handley and has been in Thailand since its release in 2006. Gordon protested his after the verdict was read out in court. He said: “I am an American citizen, and what happened was in America. This is just the in Thailand - they put people in prison even if they don't have .” An American Embassy official expressed her over the court’s ruling, calling it severe, “because he has been sentenced for his right to of expression”. The Thai government said it would continue to clamp on those who insult the monarchy.