Thailand: ex-Prime Minister Shinawatra acquitted

Thai justice acquitted the former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Moreover, founder of a political dynast that has dominated the country for 20 years on Friday, after its trial started on Tuesday for the crime of Lèse majesté. Similarly, He risked up to 15 years in prison. For example, – Thailand: ex-prime minister shinawatra acquitted

(Keystone-ATS) “The court rejected the charges against Thaksin, saying that the evidence presented was insufficient,” said his lawyer.

Leaving all smiles of the court. Moreover, the 76-year-old billionaire confined thailand: ex-prime minister shinawatra acquitted himself to saying that the case, aiming for comments reported in 2015 by a South Korean media on the coup which had overthrew the government of his sister Yingluck the previous year, had been “classified without follow-up”.

AFP is not authorized to communicate in detail the comments alleged against the accused. In addition, under penalty of risking falling itself under the blow of Thai law in matters. She criminalizes any criticism of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and her family.

Trial against her daughter

The verdict intervened even though the daughter of Thaksin. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, suspended since July of his duties as Prime Minister, is the subject of a trial in dismissal whose outcome must take place on August 29, as for his management of tensions between his country and neighboring Cambodia.

This second verdict. if pronounced against the accused, could constitute a turning point for this political dynasty which gave three prime ministers to thailand: ex-prime minister shinawatra acquitted Thailand in twenty years.

Liberal inspiration, the Shinawatra have long embodied a counterweight to the conservatives, aligned with the king and the army. In the rallies, the supporters of Thaksin wear red and its opponents of yellow, the color of royalty.

Head of government in the early 2000s, Thaksin lived in exile after his overthrow in 2006 during a military coup. He finally returned to his country in August 2023. while his party, Pheu Thai, took the lead of a government coalition with the support of his former conservative opponents.

Thaksin had then been sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for corruption. abuse of power, in connection with his past experience of Prime Minister. Due to health problems. he served his sentence in a hospital held by the police, before being released in February 2024 because of his age.

Expanded lese

The prosecution for lesse majesty under article 112 of the penal code have increased thailand: ex-prime minister shinawatra acquitted sharply since the antigenmental demonstrations of 2020. which sometimes gave rise to open criticisms of the monarchy.

A collective of Thai lawyers for human rights which has intervened in many of these cases affirms that more than. 280 people have been prosecuted for this last five years.

The law provides that anyone “defame. insults or threatens” the king, the queen, the heir to the throne or a possible regent faces up to 15 years of imprisonment.

Rights. criticism organizations of article 112 affirm that the text is today the subject of an extended interpretation, making it possible to suffocate dissident votes.

Despite his acquittal for crime of lese majesty. Thaksin remains prosecuted for suspicions of preferential treatment which he would have benefited when he served part of his sentence in the hospital.