Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was acquitted on Friday of royal defamation charges, easing a major threat to his influential political dynasty that has shaped Thai politics for more than two decades.
The 76-year-old faced up to 15 years in prison under the country’s strict lese-majeste laws, which criminalize criticism of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and the royal family. However, a Bangkok court ruled the evidence against him was insufficient, his lawyer Winyat Chatmontree confirmed.
“The court dismissed the charges against Thaksin, ruling that the evidence presented was insufficient,” Winyat told reporters.
Thaksin, who appeared at the court hearing, briefly smiled at the press as he left and remarked the case was “dismissed” without further comment.
The charges related to remarks he made during a 2015 interview with South Korean media about the 2014 military coup that toppled his sister, former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
The 76-year-old faced up to 15 years in prison under the country’s strict lese-majeste laws, which criminalize criticism of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and the royal family. However, a Bangkok court ruled the evidence against him was insufficient, his lawyer Winyat Chatmontree confirmed.
“The court dismissed the charges against Thaksin, ruling that the evidence presented was insufficient,” Winyat told reporters.
Thaksin, who appeared at the court hearing, briefly smiled at the press as he left and remarked the case was “dismissed” without further comment.
The charges related to remarks he made during a 2015 interview with South Korean media about the 2014 military coup that toppled his sister, former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
