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

 

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 
 

 

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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 

4 hours ago, KhaoHom said:

These lawsuits are unbelievably damaging to Thai reputation abroad.

 

What reputation, we're not talking about Pattaya.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

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.

That's the biggest surprise in the history of our planet, who would have thought it eh

5 hours ago, webfact said:

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.

Take it all the way and the Supreme court will give him a pass.

As Lyndon Johnson is supposed to have said, "Better to have him on the inside pissing out than on the outside pissing in."

AG wants a bigger brown envelope 

9 minutes ago, Ombra said:

As Lyndon Johnson is supposed to have said, "Better to have him on the inside pissing out than on the outside pissing in."

Trouble is he's on the inside pissing on the inside.

As Gomer Pyle would say, Surprise,Surprise.

BBEs

5 hours ago, KhaoHom said:

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 
 

 

Question: Is it even possible to further damage Thailand's reputation abroad.

10 minutes ago, DUNROAMIN said:

As Gomer Pyle would say, Surprise,Surprise.

Did Gomer actually say that, I do remember "goooolly."

No surprise here. Nothing to see here. The crime boss goes free, the crime family keeps doing business as usual. The Thai people paid for it all and will keep paying. 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

lese majeste case

 

For reference for posters OUTSIDE Thailand  (like me) 

You may be aware of the current comments, some comic and others downright rude, also the re-posting of a video on social media, that contravene the 112 law, however please be careful:

 

Section 112, the Thai lese majeste law, can apply to comments made outside Thailand, as seen in the case of a U.S. academic facing charges for statements made from abroad, as reported by CBS News. Thailand has demonstrated its ability to pursue legal action against individuals for lese majeste offenses regardless of the location where the comments were made or the nationality of the offender. (Google)

 

No further comment from me.

I'm shocked, shocked.....!!!!

 

Just going out to get the popcorn for round 2......

One of the best things that could happen to Thailand is for Thaksin and his party to disappear... turning Thailand into a mess and even making General Prayut look good. Can't believe I said that... facepalm.

But there is no bribery involved!........of course.....

Pay finished now and they try make politics instead...

However, resemblence to kindergarden for adults comes close... 😞

 

It was the Thai military leadership under Prayut who filed the 112 case against Thaksin in the first place.  They have been silent on their own case since Thaksin came back.  I wonder, if they will bother to pressure the AG to appeal, now that their approval ratings are (temporarily) higher than PT's.  Is it all part of a done deal?

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The Attorney-General, Itthiporn Kaeothip, is contemplating escalating Thaksin Shinawatra's lese majeste case to the Appellate Court.

 

They must appeal, if only to keep the defendant on his toes. He's gotten much too cocky already anyway. 

Politically and legally Thailand is bankrupt. The law clearly is controlled by the government. I feel sorry for the netizens as they will have to put up with this till there is a massive revolt to remove all those corrupt power brokers.

 

In the short term they have to put up with it till that occurs! Whilst the legal system and government remain in control Thailand will always be a third world country. The ,"rich get richer the poor get the picture".

 

 

3 hours ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

AG wants a bigger brown envelope 

This has nothing to do with brown envelopes it is the fact that he knew he was in crap so made all those donations to military equipment and people. LOL

 

It should never have gone to court, again a politically motivated action which is damaging to Thailands image and a constant reminder of the way the legal system operates. 

 

mmm.. what a surprise?

AG Weighs Appeal After Thaksin Acquitted of Lese Majeste

 

Do it !!!!!

6 hours ago, Ombra said:

As Lyndon Johnson is supposed to have said, "Better to have him on the inside pissing out than on the outside pissing in."

I thought the quote was something like “Better to have him inside the tent pissing out than outside the tent pissing in”.  A more vivid mental image.

Given that the decision to dramatically commute Thsksin's sentence, and spend the time in the VIP suite of a Government hospital, was almost certainly ratified at the highest level, then appeals against this verdict, even though it is a different case, are rather a "no win game".

 

The fix was in before his return from exile.

 

The never ending soap opera.