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Thai police have charged former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra with insulting the monarchy, a grave offense in Thailand.
This development comes as Thaksin, a controversial figure who returned from self-exile last August, faces a potential release on parole.
The charge relates to Thaksin's comments in a 2015 interview in South Korea. Prayuth Pecharakun, Thailand's attorney general’s office spokesman, stated that Thaksin denies the charges and has appealed for fair treatment. Thailand's lese-majeste laws, among the world's strictest, carry severe penalties for perceived insults to the monarchy. Offenders can face up to 15 years in prison for each charge.
Thaksin is a billionaire and two-time prime minister who was ousted in a 2006 coup and has been a polarizing figure in Thai politics. Loved by many for his populist policies in the early 2000s, he is equally reviled by the royalist and pro-military establishment.
His return to Thailand coincided with his Pheu Thai Party's return to power, sparking rumors of a backroom deal to mitigate his legal troubles. This speculation intensified when the king commuted his eight-year sentence to one year. Currently detained in a hospital due to health issues, Thaksin's political saga continues to stir controversy in Thailand.
Source: Newsroom
3 min read
