Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra cleared of defaming monarchy
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Thai court acquits ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of royal defamation charge
Thai court acquits ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of royal defamation charge. The case could have sent him to prison for up to 15 years. It is among the harshest such laws globally and increasingly has been used in Thailand to punish government critics. The court’s news release said it had found the witnesses and evidence were too weak to support conviction.. The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders will rule next month in another case that puts him in jeopardy of imprisonment. He was abroad in 2006 when a military coupousted him. He briefly returned in 2008, only to return quickly to exile to avoid a possible prison term. He returned to Thailand in 2023 when the Pheu Thai political party that he is closely associated with came to power. He has maintained a high profile, making public appearances and political observations that could upset the powerful conservative establishment that was behind his 2006 ouster.
toggle caption Arnun Chonmahatrakool/AP/AP
BANGKOK — Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was acquitted of a royal defamation charge by a court on Friday, in a case that could have sent him to prison for up to 15 years.
The 76-year-old Thaksin, smiling as he walked away from the courtroom, was the first to reveal the verdict, responding to journalists’ questions with the single word: “Dismissal.”
His lawyer, Winyat Chatmontree, also confirmed the acquittal verdict, as did the Bangkok Criminal Court later in a news release.
The law on defaming the monarchy, an offense known as lese majeste, is punishable by three to 15 years in prison. It is among the harshest such laws globally and increasingly has been used in Thailand to punish government critics.
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The legal aid group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights has said that since early 2020, more than 270 people — many of them student activists — have been charged with violating the law.
The court’s news release said it had found the witnesses and evidence were too weak to support conviction.
Thaksin was originally charged in 2016 over remarks he made a year earlier to journalists in South Korea. The case was not pursued at that time because he was in exile and the necessary legal procedures could not be completed.
The news release said the court determined that the account of the interview presented by the prosecution was incomplete and lacked context, and a key point did not clearly refer specifically to then-King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
It also said the court thought that witnesses in the case against Thaksin might have been motivated by political bias, because they have participated in political protests against him, leaving open the possibility they may have unfairly interpreted his words.
Thaksin’s opponents, who were generally staunch royalists, accused him of corruption, abuse of power and disrespecting then-King Bhumibol, who died in 2016. Thaksin has always asserted that the cases against him were politically motivated.
When he was indicted last year, Thaksin’s freedom on bail was approved with the condition that he could not travel out of Thailand unless approved by court. His passport was confiscated.
Despite facing various prosecutions since leaving office, Thaksin has spent no time in prison. He was abroad in 2006 when a military coupousted him. He briefly returned in 2008, only to return quickly to exile to avoid a possible prison term.
He returned to Thailand in 2023 when the Pheu Thai political party that he is closely associated with came to power. He was sent to serve an eight-year prison term on charges related to corruption and abuse of power but was transferred immediately to a hospital on medical grounds. After six months in a hospital suite, he was granted a pardon and parole and set free.
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The decision to send him to a hospital instead of prison was widely questioned as to whether he was granted a special, undeserved privilege. The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders will rule next month in another case that puts him in jeopardy of imprisonment.
Since his return, Thaksin has maintained a high profile, traveling the country making public appearances and political observations that could upset the powerful conservative establishment that was behind his 2006 ouster.
His daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who became prime minister last year, is also in hot water. She stands accused of failing to handle in an ethical manner a June 15 call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Senin which they discussed tensions over territory claimed by both nations. The Constitutional Court suspended her from her duties on July 1 and next week will rule whether she will lose her prime minister position for breaching ethics laws.
Thais have long been accustomed to sudden changes of government due to military coups, numbering more than a dozen since the 1930s. But in the past two decades, they have increasingly seen such changes imposed by the courts, which have ousted four prime ministers and dissolved three election-winning political parties, often on narrow technical grounds.
In most cases, the targets were viewed as challengers to the traditional royalist establishment, whose most powerful defenders are the army and the courts.
Thai ex-PM Thaksin cleared of royal insult charges, but political dynasty’s future uncertain
Thaksin’s family has long jousted with the nation’s pro-military, pro-monarchy elite. Their tenure as a defining force in Thai politics has unfolded in a saga of coups, street protests and court cases.
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Thaksin’s family has long jousted with the nation’s pro-military, pro-monarchy elite, who view their populist movement as a threat to Thailand ’s traditional social order.
Their tenure as a defining force in Thai politics has unfolded in a saga of coups, street protests and court cases as they have grappled for the kingdom’s levers of power.
The 76-year-old Thaksin had faced up to 15 years in prison under laws criminalising criticism of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his family, but was cleared after a trial that unfolded over two months.
“The court dismissed the charges against Thaksin, ruling that the evidence presented was insufficient,” his lawyer Winyat Chatmontree told reporters at Thailand’s Criminal Court in Bangkok.
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra says he has been acquitted of royal defamation
Thaksin Shinawatra said he was acquitted of royal defamation by a court Friday (August 22, 2025) His lawyer also confirmed the verdict, but the Bangkok Criminal Court did not immediately issue a statement. The law on defaming the monarchy, an offense known as lese majeste, is punishable by three to 15 years in prison.
His lawyer also confirmed the verdict, but the Bangkok Criminal Court did not immediately issue a statement.
The law on defaming the monarchy, an offense known as lese majeste, is punishable by three to 15 years in prison. It is among the harshest such laws globally and increasingly has been used in Thailand to punish government critics.
When he was indicted last year, Mr. Thaksin’s freedom on bail was approved with a bond of 500,000 baht ($13,000) with the condition that he could not travel out of Thailand unless approved by the court. His passport was confiscated.
Mr. Thaksin’s opponents, who were generally staunch royalists, accused him of corruption, abuse of power and disrespecting then-King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in 2016.
Mr. Thaksin was originally charged over remarks he made a year earlier to journalists in South Korea. The case was not pursued at that time because he was in exile and the necessary legal procedures could not be completed.
Since his return, Mr. Thaksin has maintained a high profile, travelling the country making public appearances and political observations that could upset the powerful conservative establishment that was behind his 2006 ouster.
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra says he has been acquitt…
Thaksin Shinawatra, smiling as he walked away from the courtroom, responded to journalists’ questions with the single word: “Dismissal” Law on defaming the monarchy, an offense known as lese majeste, is punishable by three to 15 years in prison. Thaksin was originally charged in 2016 over remarks he made a year earlier to journalists in South Korea. The case was not pursued at that time because he was in exile and the necessary legal procedures could not be completed, his lawyer said.. The legal aid group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights has said that since early 2020, more than 270 people — many of them student activists — have been charged with violating the law. The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders will rule next month in another case that puts him in jeopardy of imprisonment. He was abroad in 2006 when a military coup ousted him.
The 76-year-old Thaksin, smiling as he walked away from the courtroom, responded to journalists’ questions with the single word: “Dismissal.”
His lawyer, Winyat Chatmontree, also confirmed the acquittal verdict, but the Bangkok Criminal Court did not immediately issue a statement.
The law on defaming the monarchy, an offense known as lese majeste, is punishable by three to 15 years in prison. It is among the harshest such laws globally and increasingly has been used in Thailand to punish government critics.
The legal aid group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights has said that since early 2020, more than 270 people — many of them student activists — have been charged with violating the law.
Winyat told reporters that the court dismissed the case against Thaksin on several grounds. He said the court found the witnesses and evidence were too weak to support conviction.
Thaksin was originally charged in 2016 over remarks he made a year earlier to journalists in South Korea. The case was not pursued at that time because he was in exile and the necessary legal procedures could not be completed.
Winyat said the court determined that the account of the interview presented by the prosecution was incomplete and lacked context, and a key point did not clearly refer to the monarchy.
Winyat also said the court thought the complaint against Thaksin might have been motivated by political bias, causing his words to be unfairly interpreted.
Thaksin’s opponents, who were generally staunch royalists, accused him of corruption, abuse of power and disrespecting then-King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in 2016. Thaksin has always asserted that the cases against him were politically motivated.
When he was indicted last year, Thaksin’s freedom on bail was approved with the condition that he could not travel out of Thailand unless approved by court. His passport was confiscated.
Despite facing various prosecutions since leaving office, Thaksin has spent no time in prison. He was abroad in 2006 when a military coup ousted him. He briefly returned in 2008, only to return quickly to exile to avoid a possible prison term.
He returned to Thailand in 2023 when the Pheu Thai political party that he is closely associated with came to power. He was sent to serve an eight-year prison term on charges related to corruption and abuse of power but was transferred immediately to a hospital on medical grounds. After six months in a hospital suite, he was granted a pardon and parole and set free.
The decision to send him to a hospital instead of prison was widely questioned as to whether he was granted a special, undeserved privilege. The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders will rule next month in another case that puts him in jeopardy of imprisonment.
Since his return, Thaksin has maintained a high profile, traveling the country making public appearances and political observations that could upset the powerful conservative establishment that was behind his 2006 ouster.
His daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who became prime minister last year, is also in hot water. She stands accused of failing to handle in an ethical manner a June 15 call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen in which they discussed tensions over territory claimed by both nations. The Constitutional Court suspended her from her duties on July 1 and next week will rule whether she will lose her prime minister position for breaching ethics laws.
Thais have long been accustomed to sudden changes of government due to military coups, numbering more than a dozen since the 1930s. But in the past two decades, they have increasingly seen such changes imposed by the courts, which have ousted four prime ministers and dissolved three election-winning political parties, often on narrow technical grounds.
In most cases, the targets were viewed as challengers to the traditional royalist establishment, whose most powerful defenders are the army and the courts.
Thai court acquits former PM Thaksin of royal insult
Thaksin has been found not guilty due to insufficient evidence to prove his wrongdoing, the court said in a statement. The Office of the Attorney General indicted Thaksin last year, accusing him of defaming the monarchy during a 2015 interview with a South Korean media outlet. The 76-year-old returned to Thailand from self-exile two years ago. He served as the Southeast Asian country’s prime minister from 2001 to 2006.
Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra gestures as he leaves after a Thai criminal court cleared him of charges in a lese majeste case, also known as a royal insult case, in Bangkok, Thailand, Aug 22, 2025. [Photo/Agencies]
BANGKOK – Thailand’s criminal court on Friday acquitted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on royal defamation charges over his remarks to foreign media a decade ago.
Thaksin has been found not guilty due to insufficient evidence to prove his wrongdoing, the court said in a statement.
“The case was dismissed,” Thaksin said to reporters upon leaving the courthouse.
The prosecution’s evidence presented failed to meet the burden of proof required for the indictment, said Thaksin’s lawyer Winyat Chatmontree.
Thaksin thanked his legal team after the verdict was read out, stating that he could now fully dedicate himself to working for the nation’s benefit, Winyat told reporters following the ruling.
The Office of the Attorney General indicted Thaksin last year, accusing him of defaming the monarchy during a 2015 interview with a South Korean media outlet, which violated lese majeste and computer crime laws.
The lese-majeste law, or Section 112 of the Criminal Code, stipulates that whoever defames, insults, or threatens the king, queen, heir apparent, or regent shall be punished with imprisonment of three to 15 years.
In a separate case, the Supreme Court is scheduled to rule in September on whether Thaksin’s extended hospital stay prior to his release on parole in 2024 constitutes an incomplete serving of his prison term for previous convictions.
The 76-year-old returned to Thailand from self-exile two years ago. He served as the Southeast Asian country’s prime minister from 2001 to 2006 and had been in self-exile abroad since 2008.