Bangkok: The Criminal Court has dismissed the defamation case against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra under Section 112 of the Criminal Code. The court found that the plaintiff could not substantiate whether the interview clip in question had been edited.
According to Thai News Agency, the case, identified as Black No. A.1860/2567, was initiated by the Public Prosecutor's Office, Division 8, accusing Thaksin of defamation of the monarchy and violations related to the Computer Crimes Act of 2017. These charges stemmed from an interview Thaksin gave to foreign media in 2015. Thaksin was present in court to hear the verdict.
Following the court's decision, Mr. Winyat Chatmontri, a representative for Thaksin, stated that the court had dismissed the case due to insufficient evidence. The court determined that the interview clip presented was only a partial excerpt and could not verify if it had been altered. Additionally, the court found that the defendant's words did not directly refer to the monarchy, leading to the dismissal.
Mr. Winyat further explained that the prosecution's witness displayed bias against Thaksin, having previously been involved in efforts to remove him from office. The court considered this bias and noted that some statements attributed to Thaksin were speculative. The court emphasized the importance of grammatical principles in its assessment.
The court also evaluated the credibility of the evidence and the witness, a former government official with relevant experience. Thaksin's initial denials shifted the burden of proof to the plaintiff, who failed to establish the authenticity and reliability of the video clip.
Regarding potential appeals, any decision to pursue further legal action lies with the prosecutor, who must provide legal justification for an appeal. The court will continue to rely on legal principles in any subsequent proceedings.
During the verdict announcement, the courtroom remained calm. Thaksin expressed gratitude to the court and his legal team upon hearing the acquittal, stating his intent to contribute positively to the country.
Following the dismissal, Thaksin plans to seek the revocation of his travel restrictions and the unfreezing of his bank accounts. Despite these developments, he is not expected to leave the country soon.
Outside the court, supporters known as the Red Shirts gathered to show their support for Thaksin. As his car departed, they cheered, waved, and displayed signs of encouragement, though Thaksin did not interact with the crowd due to security concerns.