Thailand’s ex-PM Thaksin to face trial for royal defamation amid conservative backlash against his influence

The 74-year-old billionaire, the nation’s most influential politician over the last two decades, faces the kingdom’s tough lese-majeste law, which shields the powerful monarchy from criticism, over an allegation that he defamed the monarchy in an interview with South Korean media in 2015 while in self-exile.

He also faces a separate charge under a law for criminal computer crimes, according to the attorney-general’s office.

Thaksin did not appear before the court on Wednesday after his lawyers asked for a postponement, saying he had contracted Covid-19.

“The Attorney-General has decided to indict Thaksin Shinawatra on all charges, and Thaksin must appear before the court on June 18,” Prayuth Bejraguna, a spokesman for the office, told reporters.

That case, which could see Srettha removed from office, was widely read as a rap on the knuckles by the conservative establishment aimed at Thaksin, whose Pheu Thai party leads the government.

Thaksin’s lawyer Winyat Chatmontree said his client would fight the charges.

“He is ready to prove his innocence in the justice system,” he told reporters.

The royal defamation law, which carries up to 15 years in jail per conviction, has been wielded against over 250 pro-democracy activists in recent years. The cases include two concluded this week against a serving lawmaker and a musician, both of whom were jailed for breaching the law.

Thaksin’s indictment is another twist in the protracted political saga of the former cop turned telecoms tycoon, who returned to Thailand from self-exile last year.

He received a sentence reduction for graft convictions earlier meted against him when he was prime minister and was swiftly paroled without spending a night in jail.

The apparent deal to rehabilitate