Second suspect of cyber crime found

The online newspaper (www.prachatai.com) quoted its source as saying that the unnamed woman had been arrested on August 24, the same day the 37yearold webmaster was arrested, and had been detained in the prison since then. It said her family had financial constraints and was struggling to free her on bail.

The online paper, however, did not give details of the woman.

The webmaster, widely known among Internet users as Phraya Phichai, and the unnamed women were reported to be the first two people to be charged with the new Computer Crime Act, which went into effect on July 18. Both the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom and the commander of the Economic and Cyber Crime Division Police Maj Gen Wisut Wanitchbutr denied any knowledge of the arrests, even after they were reported in an overseas newspaper.

Arrests reported for cyber crime

Net surfers seek truth on cyber crime arrest

Phraya Phichai was freed on bail on Thursday after his relatives were able to see him in prison for the first time on Wednesday.

Notorious website owner released

The Computer Crime Act, first proposed by the ICT Ministry, has been the subject of heated controversy due to the extreme powers it gives police, who are now able to seize the computers of people they suspect of disseminating insulting or pornographic content. The law has raised concerns by humanrights organisations that are afraid it could result in an even more restrictive policy towards free expression online.

Reporters Without Borders, an organisaton that fights for press freedom, on Wednesday issued a statement to voice its concern over the arrests and the law.

"It confirms our fears about the dangers of a law that is supposed to combat pornography but turns out to be a way of restricting and controlling press freedom," said the statement.