BANGKOK (AP) — State prosecutors in Thailand stated Tuesday they’ve revived an investigation into whether or not former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra nearly 9 years in the past he violated the legislation in opposition to defamation of the monarch, against the law punishable by 15 years in jail.
Thaksin was charged in 2016 with violating the royal defamation legislation – often known as Article 112 – for remarks he made to reporters final 12 months when he was in Seoul, South Korea, Prayut stated. Phetcharakun, a spokesman for the Lawyer Normal's Workplace. Normal, in a press convention.
Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 army coup, is at the moment confined to a police hospital in Bangkok, the place he’s serving time for convictions associated to corruption and abuse of energy. He had been in self-imposed exile since 2008, however voluntarily returned to Thailand in August final 12 months to start serving an eight-year jail sentence.
He was moved nearly instantly to hospital resulting from sick well being and a few week later, King Maha Vajiralongkorn decreased his sentence to at least one 12 months. The discount made Thaksin, now 74, eligible for parole after serving at the very least a 3rd – 4 months – of his modified sentence, and may very well be launched later this month.
The choice to indict Thaksin was made in 2016, however additional authorized strikes have been suspended till he may reply the costs, which he did when authorities notified him on the hospital on January 17 , in line with Prayut. Thaksin has denied any wrongdoing and submitted a letter refuting the accusation, which has been added to his case file for use in deciding whether or not or to not proceed with prosecuting him, Prayut stated.
The announcement by the legal professional normal's workplace signifies that if Thaksin is granted an early launch, as is broadly anticipated, he could instantly be remanded in custody on fees of royal defamation.
Thaksin's return to Thailand final 12 months got here on the identical day that the Pheu Thai get together – the most recent incarnation of the get together he initially delivered to energy in 2001, and for which he’s thought of the de facto chief – gained a parliamentary vote to kind a brand new one. authorities
The earlier authorities was closely influenced by the army, which continued its hostility in the direction of Thaksin and his allies lengthy after it was ousted in 2006. Thaksin's critics have questioned whether or not his switch from jail to an atmosphere extra nice within the hospital displays a particular privilege as a part of a political coverage. deal between his supporters and his opponents.
Thaksin grew to become prime minister in 2001 by selling populist insurance policies and utilizing his telecommunications fortune to construct his personal political get together, and was simply re-elected in 2005.
Thailand's conventional royalist ruling class felt threatened by Thaksin's reputation. His ouster began years of typically violent clashes between his supporters and opponents. Political events along with his help continued to win elections, however have been pressured to energy a number of occasions by the courts and the military, each bastions of royalism.
