A court in Bangkok dismissed a high-profile criminal case accusing former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of violating Thailand's lese-majeste law. The case accused Thaksin of remarks in a 2015 interview while in self-imposed exile; his lawyer confirmed the dismissal to Reuters but offered no reason. Thaksin has denied wrongdoing and repeatedly pledged allegiance to the king. He appeared in court wearing a yellow necktie, the colour associated with the monarchy. Activists say the law has been used by conservatives to silence dissent, while royalists defend it as necessary to protect the crown. Thaksin remains a powerful political figure despite retirement and exile.
Retired politician and billionaire businessman was accused of violating Thailand's strict laws on insults to Thai royalty. A court in Thailand has dismissed a high-profile case against the country's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra over allegations he violated the country's strict laws on royal insults, the billionaire and his lawyer said. The case was dismissed, Thaksin told reporters with a smile as he left the court house following the verdict on Friday.
The case was brought by the royalist military alleging Thaksin, 76, had violated Thailand's strict lese-majeste law during a 2015 interview with foreign media while in self-imposed exile. Thaksin has denied wrongdoing and has repeatedly pledged allegiance to the king, who is enshrined in the Thai constitution as being in a position of revered worship, with the palace seen supporters as sacrosanct. On Friday, he appeared in court wearing a yellow necktie, the colour associated with Thailand's monarchy.
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