Latest news with #royal defamation
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Thai Court to Rule in August on Royal Insult Case Against Thaksin Amid Political Crisis
A Thai criminal court is set to rule next month on a near decade-old royal defamation case against former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, raising fresh risks for the head of the embattled political dynasty that controls the country's ruling party. The court set the verdict for 10:00 a.m. on Aug. 22, after Thaksin testified in a trial that wrapped up on Wednesday, according to his lawyer Winyat Chatmontree. The 75-year-old Thaksin was formally charged in June last year for violating the country's lese majeste law, which protects the royal family from criticism, over comments he made to South Korean media in 2015.
Japan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Times
Thai ex-PM Thaksin appears on stand in royal defamation case
Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra testified in court on Wednesday, seeking to defend himself against royal defamation charges in a watershed case for his faltering political dynasty. Thaksin faces up to 15 years in prison if he is convicted in the closed-door trial in Bangkok, where he stands accused of breaching strict lese majeste laws that shield Thailand's royal family from abuse and criticism. For the past quarter-century, the 75-year-old telecoms magnate has been a defining figure of Thai politics, founding a political clan which has jousted with the traditional pro-royal, pro-military elite. But his prosecution — combined with the suspension of his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, this month — represents a dramatic waning of their family's political fortune, analysts say. The prosecutors' case revolves around remarks Thaksin made to South Korean media a decade ago. Thaksin's lawyer Winyat Chatmontri said he gave testimony in the morning "and will continue throughout the rest of the day". The court has scheduled the verdict for August 22, he told reporters. Supporters of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra sit in front of the Criminal Court in Bangkok on Wednesday. | AFP-JIJI Around 50 Thaksin supporters gathered at the courthouse wearing red shirts — the colour of his political movement — emblazoned with his portrait. "He is a very talented guy," 79-year-old retired accountant Vaew Wilailak said. "But from past experience, bad people just want to get rid of him." Thaksin returned to Thailand in August 2023 after 15 years in exile, following a military coup which ousted him from the premiership he was twice elected to. He returned the day his family's Pheu Thai party took office at the head of a coalition government backed by their conservative former enemies, fueling suspicions a backroom deal had been struck. 'Chill' Thaksin Thaksin was immediately sentenced to eight years in prison on graft and abuse of power charges — later reduced to one year by a pardon from King Maha Vajiralongkorn. But political analyst Yuttaporn Issarachai said: "There is always someone within the establishment who sees him as a threat to Thai society." In recent interviews, Thaksin affirmed his loyalty to the monarchy and expressed gratitude for the king's pardon. Speaking outside the court on the trial's opening day on July 1, Thaksin's lawyer Winyat said his client appeared "chill" despite the seriousness of the case. On the same day, Thaksin's daughter Paetongtarn was suspended by the Constitutional Court pending an ethics probe into her conduct during a leaked diplomatic phone call discussing a deadly border clash between Thailand and neighboring Cambodia. In the call, Paetongtarn addressed Cambodian ex-leader Hun Sen as "uncle" and described a Thai military commander as an "opponent" — sparking backlash for seeming to kowtow to a foreign statesman and undermine her own country's military. Pheu Thai's coalition has been abandoned by key conservative backers over the call, leaving it with a razor-thin parliamentary majority steered by a caretaker prime minister. On Wednesday, Thailand's parliament threw out a draft amnesty bill in its first reading that would have released more than 30 people in prison for royal defamation. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, at least 280 people have been prosecuted under the kingdom's strict lese majeste law since 2020, which shields the king and his close family from any criticism and carries a maximum sentence of up to 15 years per offense.
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Thai ex-PM Thaksin could face 15 years in prison in royal defamation case
Former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra has testified in court, seeking to defend himself against royal defamation charges that could land him 15 years in prison, just weeks after his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended as prime minister. Thaksin stands accused of breaching strict lese-majeste laws shielding Thailand's royal family from abuse and criticism in a closed-door trial in the capital, Bangkok, that began earlier this month and continued on Wednesday. The prosecution's case revolves around remarks Thaksin made to South Korean media a decade ago, with the defendant due to give at least three days of testimony. A verdict is not expected for several weeks. Recent events for both father and daughter are a serious blow to the powerful Shinawatra political dynasty. For the past quarter-century, the 75-year-old telecoms magnate has been a defining figure of Thai politics, founding a movement which has competed with the traditional pro-royal, pro-military elite. His prosecution, combined with Paetongtarn's suspension two weeks ago, represents a dramatic waning of their family's political fortune, analysts say. Thaksin's lawyer Winyat Chatmontri told the AFP news agency his client testified on Wednesday morning 'and will continue throughout the rest of the day'. About 50 Thaksin supporters gathered at the court, wearing red shirts, the colour of his political movement, emblazoned with a portrait of his face. 'He is a very talented guy,' 79-year-old retired accountant Vaew Wilailak told AFP. 'But from past experience, bad people just want to get rid of him.' Thaksin returned to Thailand in August 2023 after 15 years in exile, following a military coup which removed him from the prime minister's office that he won in two elections. He returned the day his family's Pheu Thai party took office, at the head of a coalition government backed by their conservative former enemies, prompting suspicions a backroom deal had been struck. Thaksin was immediately sentenced to eight years in prison on corruption and abuse of power charges – later reduced to one year by a pardon from King Maha Vajiralongkorn in another apparent sign of reconciliation. In recent interviews, Thaksin affirmed his loyalty to the monarchy and expressed gratitude for the king's pardon. Speaking to AFP outside the court on the trial's opening day on July 1, Winyat said his client appeared 'chill' despite the seriousness of the case. On the same day, Paetongtarn was suspended by the Constitutional Court, pending an ethics probe into her conduct during a leaked diplomatic phone call discussing a deadly border clash between Thai and Cambodian troops on May 28, which resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier and reignited longstanding tensions in the region. The scandal 'became a full-blown crisis' after the leaked call suggested that Paetongtarn had 'compromised her position by kowtowing' to former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, professor of political science and international relations at Chulalongkorn University, told the Turkish news agency Anadolu. In the call, Paetongtarn referred to Hun Sen as 'uncle' and described a Thai military commander as an 'opponent'. Pheu Thai's coalition has been abandoned by key conservative backers over the call, leaving it with a razor-thin parliamentary majority steered by a caretaker prime minister.
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Thaksin faces royal defamation trial in key test for Shinawatra political dynasty
BANGKOK, July 16 —Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is set to testify in court on today seeking to defend himself against royal defamation charges in a watershed case for his faltering political dynasty. Thaksin faces up to 15 years in prison if he is convicted in the closed-door trial in Bangkok, where he stands accused of breaching strict lese majeste laws shielding Thailand's royal family from abuse and criticism. For the past quarter-century, the 75-year-old telecoms magnate has been a defining figure of Thai politics, founding a political dynasty which has jousted with the traditional pro-royal, pro-military elite. But his prosecution, combined with the suspension of his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, two weeks ago, represents a dramatic waning of their family's political fortune, analysts say. The prosecution's case revolves around remarks Thaksin made to South Korean media a decade ago, with the defendant due to give at least three days of testimony. A verdict is not expected for several weeks. Thaksin returned to Thailand in August 2023 after 15 years in exile, following a military coup which ousted him from the prime minister's office he won in two elections. He returned the day his family's Pheu Thai party took office at the head of a coalition government backed by their conservative former enemies, fuelling suspicions a backroom deal had been struck. Thaksin was immediately sentenced to eight years in prison on graft and abuse of power charges—later reduced to one year by a pardon from King Maha Vajiralongkorn in another apparent sign of reconciliation. But political analyst Yuttaporn Issarachai told AFP: 'There is always someone within the establishment who sees him as a threat to Thai society.' • 'Chill' Thaksin In recent interviews, Thaksin affirmed his loyalty to the monarchy and expressed gratitude for the king's pardon. Speaking to AFP outside the court on the trial's opening day on July 1, a lawyer for Thaksin said his client appeared 'chill' despite the seriousness of the case. On the same day, Thaksin's daughter Paetongtarn was suspended by the Constitutional Court pending an ethics probe into her conduct during a leaked diplomatic phone call discussing a deadly border clash between Thailand and neighbouring Cambodia. In the call, Paetongtarn referred to Cambodian ex-leader Hun Sen as 'uncle' and described a Thai military commander as an 'opponent'—sparking backlash for seeming to kowtow to a foreign statesman and undermine her own country's military. Pheu Thai's coalition has been abandoned by key conservative backers over the call, leaving it with a razor-thin parliamentary majority steered by a caretaker prime minister. tak/jts/sco By Montira RUNGJIRAJITTRANON
CNA
4 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Thai ex-PM Thaksin due in dock for royal defamation case
BANGKOK: Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is set to testify in court on Wednesday (Jul 16), seeking to defend himself against royal defamation charges in a watershed case for his faltering political dynasty. Thaksin faces up to 15 years in prison if he is convicted in the closed-door trial in Bangkok, where he stands accused of breaching strict lese majeste laws shielding Thailand's royal family from abuse and criticism. For the past quarter-century, the 75-year-old telecoms magnate has been a defining figure of Thai politics, founding a political dynasty which has jousted with the traditional pro-royal, pro-military elite. But his prosecution, combined with the suspension of his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, two weeks ago, represents a dramatic waning of their family's political fortune, analysts say. The prosecution's case revolves around remarks Thaksin made to South Korean media a decade ago, with the defendant due to give at least three days of testimony. A verdict is not expected for several weeks. Thaksin returned to Thailand in August 2023 after 15 years in exile, following a military coup which ousted him from the prime minister's office he won in two elections. He returned the day his family's Pheu Thai party took office at the head of a coalition government backed by their conservative former enemies, fuelling suspicions a backroom deal had been struck. Thaksin was immediately sentenced to eight years in prison on graft and abuse of power charges - later reduced to one year by a pardon from King Maha Vajiralongkorn in another apparent sign of reconciliation. But political analyst Yuttaporn Issarachai told AFP: "There is always someone within the establishment who sees him as a threat to Thai society." "CHILL" THAKSIN In recent interviews, Thaksin affirmed his loyalty to the monarchy and expressed gratitude for the king's pardon. Speaking to AFP outside the court on the trial's opening day on Jul 1, a lawyer for Thaksin said his client appeared "chill" despite the seriousness of the case. On the same day, Thaksin's daughter Paetongtarn was suspended by the Constitutional Court pending an ethics probe into her conduct during a leaked diplomatic phone call discussing a deadly border clash between Thailand and neighbouring Cambodia. In the call, Paetongtarn referred to Cambodian ex-leader Hun Sen as "uncle" and described a Thai military commander as an "opponent" - sparking backlash for seeming to kowtow to a foreign statesman and undermine her own country's military.
