The Criminal Court on Friday dismissed a royal insult case against influential former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the first in a series of high-stakes rulings involving the powerful Shinawatra dynasty.
“The case was dismissed,” Thaksin told reporters with a smile as he left the courthouse in Bangkok.
The court said the case, brought by the military and stemming from an interview Thaksin gave to a South Korean media outlet in 2015, lacked sufficient evidence to prove he had insulted the monarchy, an offence punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The court ruled that the video clip submitted as evidence contained only excerpts of the interview, with limited wording, while it believed the full interview had more content.
Since the prosecution could not prove whether the clip had been edited or not, and because Thaksin’s statements were not specifically directed at the then-reigning King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the court extended the benefit of the doubt to Thaksin.
The court also observed that testimony given by some prosecution witnesses indicated that they had a political bias against the defendant.
In the interview, Thaksin made some critical remarks about what he saw as manoeuvring by certain forces that led to the downfall of the government led by his sister Yingluck in 2014.
“Evidence from the plaintiff showed the interview by the defendant did not defame, insult or threaten the king, therefore the defendant is not guilty,” the court said.
Thaksin, who appeared at the court with a yellow necktie, the colour associated with the monarchy, had denied wrongdoing.
He has repeatedly pledged allegiance to the king, who is enshrined in the constitution as being in a position of “revered worship”, with the palace seen by royalists as sacrosanct.
The divisive billionaire remains a major force in Thai politics despite being retired and having previously spent 15 years in self-imposed exile before his return to the country in 2023.
Although he has no official role in government, Thaksin remains politically active and is widely seen as the power behind the ruling Pheu Thai Party nominally led by his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, which is losing popularity and hanging on by a thread over a conflict with Cambodia and a weak economy.
Thaksin’s case was the highest-profile among more than 280 prosecutions in recent years under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, which activists say has been weaponised by conservatives to silence dissent and sideline political rivals. Royalists say the law is necessary to protect the crown.
More rulings ahead
The judgement came a week ahead of another key ruling involving Ms Paetongtarn who has been in power for only a year. Ms Paetongtarn, 39, faces the prospect of dismissal by the Constitutional Court for an alleged violation of ethics over a leaked telephone conversation with Cambodia's former leader Hun Sen, in what she said was an attempt to defuse a diplomatic crisis that later spiralled into five days of armed conflict.
Thaksin also faces another key legal test in September, where the Supreme Court will decide whether his six-month stint in hospital detention prior to his release on parole in 2024 should count as time served in a jail term for abuse of power and conflicts of interest. He could potentially be made to serve the time in prison.
Supporters outside the court expressed relief at Friday’s decision, saying Thaksin was committed to helping the people.
“I’m glad,” said Khemanut Thauntong, 62. “He is a good and honest person who is loyal to the nation.”
