BANGKOK (AP) — Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra stated that he was cleared of charges related to insulting the monarchy by a court on Friday, a case that potentially could have led to him spending up to 15 years in prison.
A 76-year-old Thaksin, smiling as he left the courtroom, answered reporters' questions with just one word: "Dismissal."
His attorney, Winyat Chatmontree, also verified the not guilty ruling, although the Bangkok Criminal Court did not promptly release a statement.
The legal provision against defaming the monarchy, referred to as lese majeste, carries a penalty of three to 15 years in prison. It is one of the strictest laws of its kind worldwide and has been increasingly applied in Thailand to penalize individuals who criticize the government.
A legal aid organization called Thai Lawyers for Human Rights has stated that since the beginning of 2020, over 270 individuals — including numerous student activists — have faced charges for breaking the law.
Winyat informed journalists that the court dropped the charges against Thaksin for multiple reasons. He mentioned that the court determined the witnesses and evidence were insufficient to justify a conviction.
Thaksin was first charged in 2016 regarding statements he made to journalists in South Korea the previous year. The case was not pursued at that time since he was in exile and the required legal steps could not be finalized.
Winyat stated that the court found the prosecution's account of the interview to be incomplete and missing context, with a crucial detail failing to clearly address the monarchy.
Winyat also mentioned that the court believed the accusation against Thaksin could have been influenced by political bias, leading to a misinterpretation of his statements.
Thaksin's adversaries, who typically held strong royalist views, alleged that he was involved in corruption, misused his authority, and showed disrespect towards the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who passed away in 2016. Thaksin has consistently claimed that the charges brought against him were driven by political motives.
Last year, after he was charged, Thaksin was granted bail under the condition that he could not leave Thailand without court approval. His passport was taken away.
Although Thaksin has been subject to multiple legal actions since leaving his position, he has never served any time in jail. In 2006, he was overseas when a military coup removed him from power. He made a short return in 2008 but quickly went back into exile to escape potential imprisonment.
He came back to Thailand in 2023 when the Pheu Thai political party, which he is closely linked to, gained control. He was sentenced to an eight-year prison term for allegations of corruption and misuse of authority but was quickly moved to a hospital due to health reasons. Following six months in a hospital room, he received a pardon and was released on parole.
The choice to send him to a hospital rather than a prison was heavily criticized, with many questioning if he received an unfair advantage. The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders will make a decision next month in another case that could lead to his imprisonment.
Since coming back, Thaksin has remained in the public eye, touring the nation with public events and political comments that may provoke the influential conservative group responsible for his 2006 removal.
His daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who assumed the role of prime minister last year, is also facing controversy. She is being charged with not managing a situation in an ethical way.Meeting on June 15 with Cambodian Senate President Hun Senwhere they addressed conflicts regarding land claimed by both countries. The Constitutional Court placed her on leave from her responsibilities on July 1, and next week will decide if she will be removed from her role as prime minister for violating ethical regulations.
Thais have become used to abrupt shifts in government because of military takeovers, with over a dozen such events since the 1930s. However, in the last twenty years, they have witnessed these changes being enforced by courts, which have removed four prime ministers and disbanded three political parties that won elections, typically based on minor legal issues.
In the majority of instances, the targets were seen as threats to the conventional royalist system, which is most strongly supported by the military and the judiciary.