Three Thai protest leaders denied bail on royal insult charges; more activists charged in court

A pro-democracy activist, Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, front left, receives a flower from her supporter as she arrived at the Attorney General office in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 8, 2021. Prosecutors in Thailand charged 18 pro-democracy activists with sedition on Monday, while lodging additional charges of insulting the monarchy against three of them. - AP

BANGKOK, March 8 (Reuters/AP): Three Thai protest leaders were denied bail and transferred to prison on Monday after being charged with insulting the powerful monarchy during anti-government protests last year, rights groups said.

Panusaya "Roong" Sithijirawattanakul, 22, Panupong "Mike Rayong" Jadnok, 24, and Jatupat "Pai Daodin" Boonpattararaksa, 29, were denied bail, according to iLaw legal monitoring group and Sunai Phasuk of Human Rights Watch.