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Former Thai PM Thaksin accused of defaming monarchy

38 0
03.06.2024

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is being taken to court over an alleged insult to the kingdom's royal family during a 2015 interview.

He is expected to be indicted under Thailand's controversial lese majeste law, one of the strictest in the world, which carries lengthy prison sentences — up to 15 years per offense — for those who criticize the monarchy.

Thaksin is also expected to be indicted for violating a computer crime law that outlaws the entry of false data into a computer system that is likely to cause damage to Thailand's security or public safety.

Thaksin is no stranger to legal troubles. He fled Thailand in 2008 to avoid a prison term for several charges, including corruption and tax evasion following a military coup in 2006.

He returned to Thailand in August 2023 and was convicted of abuse of power and conflicts of interest, and sentenced to eight years in prison. Hours after being imprisoned, he was transferred to hospital, as he was suffering from high blood pressure and chest pain.

He was released in February 2024 after just six months' detention due to health reasons and a royal pardon from King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

The latest charges against Thaksin stem from a remark he allegedly made in an interview with a media outlet in Seoul, South Korea in 2015. He accused the Privy Council of........

© Deutsche Welle


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