A case against Thailand’s influential former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been dismissed by the court. Thaksin is the father of current Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is currently suspended from her duties. The Shinawatra family is powerful and influential in Thailand. The dismissed case was filed against Thaksin for allegedly insulting the Thai royal family in his remarks.
The case against Thaksin was filed by Thailand’s powerful military. The conflict between the Shinawatra family and the Thai military has persisted for many years. The case claimed that Thaksin had insulted the royal family in an interview given to foreign media in 2015. However, after reviewing the case, the court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Thaksin had insulted the royal family in that interview.
“The evidence submitted by the plaintiff [the military] in the form of the interview does not prove that the defendant [Thaksin] defamed, slandered, insulted, or threatened the king. Therefore, it is determined that the defendant is not guilty,” the court’s ruling stated.
Thaksin served as Prime Minister of Thailand from February 9, 2001, to September 19, 2006. He was removed from power by a military coup. After that, he lived in self-imposed exile in a foreign country until 2023.
However, Thaksin remains a powerful and influential figure in Thai politics. Parties under his influence, including the Pheu Thai Party and the People’s Power Party, have held power, with his sister Yingluck Shinawatra serving as Prime Minister from 2011 to 2014. Paetongtarn, who assumed the role of Prime Minister in 2024, is his daughter.
Thaksin returned to the country in August 2023. Upon his return, he was sentenced to eight years in prison. However, in September of that year, his prison sentence was reduced to one year by a royal decree. Shortly before Paetongtarn took office, Thaksin’s sentence was pardoned.
Paetongtarn is also currently suspended from her duties as Prime Minister. Thailand’s Constitutional Court suspended Paetongtarn following a case filed by 36 members of the country’s parliament, accusing her of fraud, lack of integrity, and ethical violations. Paetongtarn was suspended on July 1. Reports suggest that a hearing to decide on this case will be held within about a week.
