19-2-2024 (BANGKOK) Attorney-General Amnat Chetcharoenrak has ordered further investigation in the lese majeste case against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and temporarily released him, setting the next appointment for April 10th.
According to spokesman Prayut Phetcharakhun, Thaksin was paroled on Sunday and was subsequently received by the police from the Technology Crime Suppression Division for the lese majeste case. His temporary release was approved.
On Monday morning at 8:30 am, Thaksin was escorted by the police to the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG), where Attorney-General Amnat reviewed Thaksin’s recent petition for fair treatment in the case. It was decided that further interrogation, as requested by Thaksin, was necessary, said Prayut.
The OAG approved Thaksin’s temporary release on Monday. He has been ordered to return at 9 am on April 10th to hear the attorney-general’s decision regarding the case, stated the OAG spokesperson.
Thaksin arrived at the OAG in a wheelchair, wearing a face mask and neck brace.
Earlier, Prayut mentioned that Thaksin is accused of defaming the monarchy through comments made in Seoul, South Korea, on May 21, 2015.
On September 19, 2016, then Attorney-General Pongniwat Yuthapanboripan decided to indict Thaksin. At that time, Thaksin was a fugitive, and the former attorney-general instructed the police to obtain an arrest warrant from the Criminal Court, which was issued accordingly.
On January 17th of this year, Thaksin was informed by public prosecutors and the police about the lese majeste charge and a related computer crime charge. Thaksin denied the charges and submitted a written petition for fair treatment.
In May 2015, Thaksin gave an interview to Chosun Ilbo in Seoul, where he claimed that privy councillors supported the coup on May 22, 2014, which led to the ousting of his younger sister Yingluck Shinawatra’s government.
A video clip of the interview circulated widely on Thai social media.
The police believe that Thaksin’s comments during the interview may have violated the lese majeste law and the computer crime law. Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law, carries a punishment of 3-15 years in prison for each offense.
