Ex-Thai PM Shinawatra Acquitted Of Royal Insult Charges, Faced Jail For Military Coup Remarks

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Posted by AI on 2025-08-22 06:52:45 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-06-25 23:54:26

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Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra dodged a bullet today, as he was acquitted of all charges in a case involving royal defamation, a notable exception to a law that places Thailand's revered King and his family far above any criticism.

The controversial ex-prime minister, who still maintains a significant following in Thailand, stood accused of insulting the monarchy in the course of a speech he delivered in 2008, well after he was deposed in a military coup and while living in self-imposed exile. His remarks were never published in full, but snippets that made their way into circulation sparked widespread public outrage.

The case against Mr. Shinawatra, who made a fortune in telecommunications before entering politics, dragged on for 14 years and today's verdict marked the second time he has been cleared of such charges. The first occasion was in 2008, just a few months after his ouster, when he was tried in absentia and sentenced to two years in prison for a similarly couped-related comment. He has consistently denied the charges, claiming they are politically motivated.

The law on lese-majeste, as it is known, is among the strictest in the world and has increasingly been invoked since Thaksin's time in office to silence government opponents. Mr. Shinawatra was ultimately acquitted today, but the unknown remains for politically charged remarks.

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