A distinguished academic faces five years in prison for reposting a photograph of a handbag carried by the wife of Thailand’s dictator on Facebook.

Charnvit Kasetsiri, a renowned historian, reported to police in Bangkok yesterday to be charged with violating Thailand’s Computer Crimes Act. The allegation relates to a photograph posted on Facebook, which was subsequently shared by the 76-year old professor, showing the visit to Washington last October of the prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, and his wife, Naraporn.

The original post, which was not written by Professor Charnvit, said that a handbag carried by Mrs Naraporn on a visit to the White House was by the designer Hermès, and cost 2 million baht (£45,000).