BANGKOK — A Thai court on Friday acquitted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of royal defamation charges in a case dating back nearly a decade, with his legal team citing flawed prosecution evidence and biased witnesses as key factors in the victory.
The Criminal Court dismissed lese majeste and Computer Crime Act charges against the 75-year-old billionaire politician stemming from a May 2015 interview he gave to South Korean media while in self-imposed exile.
Court Cites Insufficient Evidence
Winyat Chatmontree, Thaksin’s lead attorney, said on August 22 that judges ruled on multiple grounds, primarily the prosecution’s failure to meet the burden of proof required under Thai law.
“Judges applied principles of evidence evaluation and determined that Thaksin’s interview contained more content than what appeared in the video clip presented as evidence,” Winyat told reporters following the verdict.
In their ruling, judges conducted a detailed grammatical analysis of Thaksin’s statements, examining subject, verb and object structures using Oxford dictionary standards. They ultimately concluded the defendant’s remarks did not reference the monarchy, a critical element required for lese majeste convictions under Article 112.
The Credibility Gap Between Two Sides
The ruling highlighted the credibility gap between defense and prosecution witnesses. The court recognized the expertise of defense witnesses including Thongtong Chandrangsu, former Dean of Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Law, and Wisanu Kruengam, former Deputy Prime Minister and renowned legal scholar.
In contrast, the defense successfully demonstrated that prosecution witnesses harbored bias against Thaksin. Evidence showed several had participated in anti-Thaksin rallies and expressed strong political opinions publicly.
“Some prosecution witnesses gave contradictory testimony and even fabricated words they claimed Thaksin had spoken to support their interpretation that his statements referenced individuals protected under Article 112,” Winyat explained.
No Concerns About Appeal
The case remained dormant for years because Thaksin lived in exile following the 2006 military coup that removed him from power. Legal proceedings could not advance without his physical presence in Thailand.
Thaksin returned to Thailand in August 2023 and was formally indicted last year. He was released on 500,000 baht ($13,000) bail with travel restrictions and passport confiscation.
When asked about potential prosecution appeals, Winyat expressed confidence in the verdict’s strength.
“Appeals are the prosecutor’s responsibility. They typically focus on legal interpretation issues. If prosecutors see grounds for appeal, that’s their prerogative, but I have no concerns,” he said.
Thaksin’s Reaction and Future Plans
Winyat described Thaksin’s emotional response to the acquittal: “When he heard the verdict, Thaksin smiled and thanked the legal team. He said he could now contribute fully to the nation’s benefit.”
The lawyer dismissed speculation that the acquittal might encourage Thaksin to flee before his September 9 court appearance on separate charges related to his hospital detention.
“Thaksin has confirmed he will definitely attend the September 9 hearing,” Winyat stated. “For those who persist in thinking Thaksin will flee or seek personal gain for his family, I won’t beg them to stop. But I ask society to use wisdom when listening to such individuals. The past has proven Thaksin didn’t flee and has fought his cases throughout.”
Since returning to Thailand, Thaksin has maintained a high public profile, traveling nationwide for appearances and making political observations that could potentially antagonize the conservative establishment responsible for his 2006 overthrow.
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