KUALA LUMPUR – Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has another legal battle on his hands as the attorney-general (AG) will be charging him for insulting the royalty with comments made in 2015.
AG spokesman Prayuth Pecharakun said Thaksin will be hauled up to court on June 18 to be charged under the lese-majeste laws.
“The AG has decided to indict Thaksin for insulting the monarchy. The AG cannot bring him to court today, as Thaksin’s lawyer said he has Covid,” he was quoted as saying by AFP.
Thaksin, 74, is expected to fight the charges as the strict royal defamation laws could see him in prison for at least 15 years.
His return to Thailand last year after living in self-exile in Dubai for 15 years sparked controversy as his Pheu Thai party came into power despite not winning the most seats.
However, he did serve time in jail on graft and abuse-of-power charges dating back to his time in office, and is currently on parole.
The two-time prime minister was ousted in a 2006 coup.
His daughter, Paetongtarn, now heads Pheu Thai and has been tipped as a possible prime minister. – May 29, 2024