BANGKOK – Thailand’s attorney general on Wednesday postponed until May a decision over whether to indict ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra in a royal insult case.
The divisive billionaire, twice elected premier and ousted in a 2006 military coup, was released on parole earlier this year after being jailed for graft and abuse-of-power charges upon his return from exile in 2023.
Thailand has some of the world’s strictest royal defamation laws protecting King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his close family, with each charge bringing a potential 15-year prison sentence.
The lese-majeste case relates to comments Thaksin made in 2015 while living in self-imposed exile. The 74-year-old has denied the charge.
“The attorney general has not decided on the case as investigators have not yet sent all the papers,” said Prayuth Pecharakun, Office of the Attorney General spokesperson.
“The Office has decided to make the decision on 29 May,” he said, adding Thaksin’s lawyer had been informed.
Thaksin returned to Thailand in August after 15 years of self-exile and was immediately jailed for eight years on charges dating back to his time in power.
His arrival coincided with his Pheu Thai party’s return to power in a controversial deal with pro-military parties.
The timing triggered rumors of a backroom deal to help Thaksin, speculation fueled further when the king cut his jail sentence from eight years to one year just days later.