Thailand’s strict lèse-majesté laws mean it is a crime to insult or defame members of the royal family and can see people jailed for up to 15 years on each count.

Thanakorn Siripaiboon apparently made a “sarcastic” internet post about King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s dog, Tongdaeng, a street mongrel he rescued.

Tongdaeng is a household name in the country. The king wrote a book on her and there was even an animated film about her released this year called Khun Tongdaeng: The Inspiration.

Mr Thanakorn’s lawyer, Anon Numpa, told the International New York Times the military had failed to specify the exact insult he made towards the dog.

He said: “I never imagined they would use the law for the royal dog. “It’s nonsense.”