Former Thai PM ‘will be indicted for royal defamation’

Former Thai PM ‘will be indicted for royal defamation’

Thai prosecutors stated on Wednesday former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will probably be indicted for defaming the monarchy, three months after he was freed on parole on different expenses.

Thaksin won’t but be indicted as a result of he had filed a request to postpone his authentic appointment on Wednesday with proof that he has COVID-19, Prayuth Bejraguna, a spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney General, stated at a news convention.
The lawyer normal’s workplace scheduled a brand new appointment for Thaksin’s indictment on June 18, Prayuth stated, including that Thaksin may also be indicted for violating the Computer Crime Act.
FILE - Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, arrives at Don Muang airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. Thai prosecutors on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, said Thaksin will be indicted for defaming the monarchy, three months after he was freed on parole on other charges. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)
Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, arrives at Don Muang airport in Bangkok, Thailand in 2023. (AP)
Thaksin had been in self-imposed exile since 2008, however returned to Thailand in August final yr to start serving an eight-year sentence.

He was launched on parole in February from the hospital in Bangkok the place he spent six months serving time for corruption-related offenses.

On his return, he was moved virtually instantly from jail to the hospital on grounds of sick well being, and a few week after that King Maha Vajiralongkorn decreased his sentence to a single yr.

Thaksin was granted parole earlier this month due to his age — he’s 74 — and sick well being, leaving him free for the rest of his one-year sentence.

After the return, the lawyer normal’s workplace stated it had revived an investigation into whether or not Thaksin virtually 9 years in the past violated the legislation towards defaming the monarch, a criminal offense punishable by as much as 15 years in jail.

Thaksin was initially charged in 2016 with violating the legislation for remarks he made to journalists when he was in Seoul, South Korea, a yr earlier than that, however the investigation might proceed solely after he was introduced with the cost in individual within the hospital in January, officers stated.

Thaksin had denied the fees and submitted an announcement defending himself.

Prosecutor’s spokesperson Prayuth stated there’s sufficient proof for the lawyer normal to indict Thaksin.

He stated the prosecutors have already ready their assertion and paperwork to current to the court docket subsequent month.

Source: www.9news.com.au