Criminal Court acquits Kasit accused of defaming Thaksin

[Lite Beer]

Criminal Court acquits Kasit accused of defaming Thaksin

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court today acquitted former foreign minister Kasit Piromya of defaming ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra in a public address made in November 2008.

Thaksin filed defamation case against Kasit after he addressed at a protest rally at Government House organised by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in November 2008, accusing Thaksin of trying by all means to take over the country and make it his personal asset.

Thai Day Dotcom and ASTV Manager were also named as second and third defendants in the defamation case for publications of Kasit’s address.

Kasit also accused him of having strong determination to turn the country into presidency ruling system and undermining the monarchy, with him becoming the president.

But the court overruled the defamation charge reasoning that Thaksin was a former prime minister and a well known public figure whom everyone could criticise.

Although some wordings in the criticism was impolite, but the public address was made with honesty to protect the monarchy and national interest.

It then acquitted Mr Kasit of the defamation charge.

It also said the two newspapers which published the public address were also not guilty.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/criminal-court-acquits-kasit-accused-defaming-thaksin

-- Thai PBS 2014-12-26

[JOC]

How can you defame a snake??

[Chang_paarp]

But the court overruled the defamation charge reasoning that Thaksin was a former prime minister and a well known public figure whom everyone could criticise.

Except if you are a former general who parades around as a PM.

[Costas2008]

He just spoke the truth......why would he be convicted?

[JOC]

>>But the court overruled the defamation charge reasoning that Thaksin was a former prime minister and a well known public figure whom everyone could criticise.<<Quote

As for well known public figures, whom everyone could criticize..........................................

Well, I better keep my mouth shut!!

[thesetat2013]

Kind of hard for Thak to win a case here when he cant be present to testify

[JOC]

It is beyond me, how can the court even consider taking a case filed by a fugitive on the run from the law??

[JOC]

Kind of hard for Thak to win a case here when he cant be present to testify

If I remember correctly he left the country of his own free will.

He will be welcome back tomorrow to start serving his sentence and face additional charges!!

[Mango Bob]

That's ok they still go the Airport case to hang his ass. Maybe someday the court will decide to hear that case.

[Thailand]

Not much of a surprise.

[Bluespunk]

"But the court overruled the defamation charge reasoning that Thaksin was a former prime minister and a well known public figure whom everyone could criticise."

Interesting precedent being set there.

[ramrod711]

How can you defame a snake??

I think you could be charged with defaming snakes.

[maapaa]

The actual PM knows this, doesn't he?

Oh, maybe not. Or why is he threatening to ban a newspaper that wrote something "not pleasant" about him?

[Thailand]

"But the court overruled the defamation charge reasoning that Thaksin was a former prime minister and a well known public figure whom everyone could criticise."

Interesting precedent being set there.

Overruled!

[mikemac]

>>But the court overruled the defamation charge reasoning that Thaksin was a former prime minister and a well known public figure whom everyone could criticise.<<Quote

As for well known public figures, whom everyone could criticize..........................................

Well, I better keep my mouth shut!!

Re' your last sentence - You didn't hear it from me !

[greenchair]

Prayut take note. He is a public figure who should be open to criticism.

[mikemac]

Kind of hard for Thak to win a case here when he cant be present to testify

You are either a master of sarcasm or a gifted comic genius.

[Baerboxer]

Kind of hard for Thak to win a case here when he cant be present to testify

He could be present if he wanted to be. He has a huge fortune, which grew much larger over the last few years, private plane, bodyguards.

His choice.

Oh, he might have to serve his criminal conviction sentence, face charges for absconding, and face the other 15 serious outstanding charges waiting in the courts.

But, AFAIK, no one is keeping him out.

[djjamie]

Ahbisit tried to sue Jatuporn for a speech he made during a rally on May 10, 2009. It was thrown out of court as well with the reason being "such a verbal attack cannot be regarded as defamation in accordance with the Penal Code".

If one was to read into the penal code one could surmise that "Ahbisit was a well known public figure whom everyone could criticize".

So nothing surprising here. Same result, but from the opposite side of the political divide. No conspiracy here.

Some of these court case outcomes are frustrating, but the law must be respected.

[djjamie]

The actual PM knows this, doesn't he?

Oh, maybe not. Or why is he threatening to ban a newspaper that wrote something "not pleasant" about him?

He is not threatening to ban a newspaper. If he was a bad scary military junta leader he would simply close the station down or have everyone arrested.

You know what he did? He lodged a complaint with the press association against the newspaper.

Kinda like any law abiding citizen would do.

[JOC]

The actual PM knows this, doesn't he?

Oh, maybe not. Or why is he threatening to ban a newspaper that wrote something "not pleasant" about him?

He is not threatening to ban a newspaper. If he was a bad scary military junta leader he would simply close the station down or have everyone arrested.

You know what he did? He lodged a complaint with the press association against the newspaper.

Kinda like any law abiding citizen would do.

djjamie, you are so sweet, when you show your naive side!!

Below a quote from the PM today!!

>>But I don't know what to do, as I will be criticised tomorrow for saying this. But this time I'm really going to shut down this paper, because it will continue to creep on me if I let it go... What's the point of martial law then? We have it to ensure peace and constructively," he said.<<

There is none so blind as those who will not see.............................

[gemini81]

Kind of hard for Thak to win a case here when he cant be present to testify

He can; but he is too much of a coward (even to face his own charges and many cases against him, and more on the desks of revenue dept etc.)

[FangFerang]

Everyone knows Thaksin fled because he was going to be killed in prison.

Freaking duh.

Yes, he is a lying pirate, and yes, he is a criminal.

So what? Lots of criminals run countries...look at the last 50 years of US and Gb influence. It's a LOT uglier than what happens here.

[Qent]

Not much of a surprise.

Agreed, it was a BS lawsuit without merit from the very beginning.

.

[bubblegum]

In your face !

[Docno]

"Kasit also accused him of having strong determination to turn the country into presidency ruling system and undermining the monarchy, with him becoming the president."

Didn't some regime-sponsored reform committee recently recommend a presidential system for Thailand?

[rickirs]

"Thaksin was a former prime minister and a well known public figure whom everyone could criticise."

My, my how times have changed when the military Junta leads the government. A little criticism and PM Prayuth threatens Article 44 to silence any critics.

[DekDaeng]

"But the court overruled the defamation charge reasoning that Thaksin was a former prime minister and a well known public figure whom everyone could criticise."

Interesting precedent being set there.

Very.

Precedent without precedent.

(without precedent, but only in Thailand)

[SOTIRIOS]

Kind of hard for Thak to win a case here when he cant be present to testify

...being a fugitive...why would he even be allowed to launch a suit to begin with.....

[LuckyLew]

Pretty stupid that someone living as a fugItIve on the run from a jail sentence in Thailand can still use the same legal system to try sue people

just my opinion