Thailand: Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra Indicted On Lese-Majeste Charges

Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been indicted with lese majeste charges, announced authorities on Wednesday.

According to the police, Thaksin allegedly broke Thailand’s infamous severe royal insult statute in an interview with a Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo in 2015.

As per spokesperson Prayuth Bejraguna, “the attorney general has decided to indict Thaksin on all charges.” informed reporters on Wednesday.

Further, the spokesperson also revealed that Thaksin must come to the attorney general’s office on June 18. Later, he will also be brought to court.

Lese-majeste refers to an offense or defamation against the state’s ruling head or state’s dignity.

These charges against Thaksin came around when he just returned to Thailand after 15 years of self-imposed exile last august.

As per some experts, Thaksin has allegedly struck a deal with country’s dominant conservative or royalist establishment for his return. But Thaksin has denied this charge.

However, he was granted 8-year prison term for authority’s misuse and corruption due to alleged conflict of interest.

Later, in February, the 74-year-old thai politician walked as a free man from custody, after spending six months in police hospital before the grant of parole.

Currently, Thailand has most stringent royal defamation laws in the world. Where 15-year prison sentence can be imposed for the slight criticism for country’s queen, king and heir.

For many years, people have faced prosecution under section 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code, popularly called lese majeste statute. Which usually include sentences spanning decades.

The recent death of Young Thai activist due to this law, in pre-trial custody, has triggered for justice reform among country’s citizens.