Report AG Weighs Appeal After Thaksin Acquitted of Lese Majeste

[webfact]

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, centre, leaves after a court acquitted Thaksin of royal defamation at Criminal Court in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

 

The Attorney-General, Itthiporn Kaeothip, is contemplating escalating Thaksin Shinawatra's lese majeste case to the Appellate Court. Today, the Criminal Court acquitted Thaksin of charges relating to remarks allegedly involving His Late Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, ending a significant chapter in a long-standing legal saga.

 

The attorney-general is poised to take 30 days, potentially extendable, to decide the next steps in this high-profile case.

 

If the prosecutors aim for the Appellate Court and succeed, Thaksin has the right to appeal further to the Supreme Court. This could extend the legal battle, ignited during Prayut Chan-o-cha's military regime, well into the future, reported Thai Newsroom.

 

The Criminal Court's decision today was based on the lack of direct involvement of the late monarch in the former prime minister's comments, which primarily revolved around "palace circle" and military matters.

 

Thaksin’s name became entangled in controversy following the 2014 coup led by then-army chief Prayut, which removed his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, from power.

 

Thaksin was accused of mentioning the monarchy in a way that violated the lese majeste law during an interview in Seoul following the coup. However, the court found no evidence of intent to implicate the revered late king.

 

In other news, Thaksin faces potential consequences related to legal manoeuvres for avoiding regular prison protocols. The Supreme Court is set to deliver a verdict on September 9 concerning accusations that he used legal loopholes and undue assistance from officials to secure an extended stay in a premium ward at the Police Hospital under the guise of being critically ill.

 

The Medical Council of Thailand has found that medical professionals may have compromised their integrity, as Thaksin’s health status was reportedly not as severe as claimed.

 

These developments mark another chapter in the ongoing narrative of Thaksin Shinawatra's legal challenges. As the Attorney-General deliberates on the potential move to the Appellate Court, Thailand waits to see whether another legal bout will be added to his already storied saga.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai Newsroom 2025-08-23

 

[KhaoHom]

Yesterday's news today.

 

Never did pass the smell test. Taksin lawyers quite confident it's a done deal although diehards pushing AG for appeal.

 

A. Fix nation 

OR

B. Sow chaos

 

🤪

 

File under: yet another high profile case that never should have seen the courtroom 

 

These lawsuits are unbelievably damaging to Thai reputation abroad. True banana republic stuff

 

Thais have lost all faith in government recent Post article. This is what you get when the law arbitrary and capricious 
 

 

[Captain Flack]

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[klauskunkel]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

contemplating escalating Thaksin Shinawatra's lese majeste case to the Appellate Court

everyone is trying sooo hard to keep up the appearance of a functional legal system, guess what, it's functioning all right