Former Prime Minister Confident as Witness Hearings Scheduled for July
PUBLISHED: 19 Aug 2024 at 14:15
UPDATED: 19 Aug 2024 at 14:51
The lese majeste charges against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra have been postponed until July of next year following the examination of witness and evidence lists. This announcement was made by Thaksin’s lawyer, Winyat Chartmontree.
The Criminal Court is set to conduct seven witness sessions next July, with expectations for a ruling later in the year. Thaksin is prepared to attend all hearings to demonstrate his respect for the royal institution, as stated by his legal counsel after the closed hearing.
Included among Thaksin’s witnesses will be a Thai-speaking Korean interpreter and a notable lawyer. Winyat noted that a critical English translation issue led to the allegations against Thaksin.
This case stems from comments Thaksin made during a 2015 interview in Seoul. During a court appearance on Monday morning, he expressed confidence, stating, “I have no worries. The case arose shortly after the coup and involves using the law to strengthen their grip on power.”
The controversy involves comments made during an interview on May 21, 2015, where he suggested that privy councillors had endorsed the 2014 coup that removed his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, from power. He faces not only lese majeste charges but also charges related to computer crime due to the interview being published online.
After being arraigned in June, Thaksin was released on bail but prohibited from leaving Thailand without court approval. Recently, he sought permission to travel to Dubai for medical treatment, which was denied as the court determined he could receive sufficient care in Thailand.
Despite his health issues, Thaksin outlined plans for medical consultations in Dubai, asserting he would return before his next court date on August 19. The court deemed there was no necessity for his trip, especially as it was imminent to the hearing date.
In a related political development, Thaksin’s youngest daughter, Paetongtarn, was elected Prime Minister by the House of Representatives last Friday and sworn in during a ceremony on Sunday.
