Srettha, a real estate tycoon who entered politics with the ruling Pheu Thai party last year, faces potential dismissal over the appointment of a lawyer who was imprisoned for contempt of court to his cabinet.
The case was brought on by a group of 40 conservative military-appointed senators who complained to the Constitutional Court against Srettha. The prime minister denies the charge.
Move Forward, which won last year’s election but was blocked by conservative lawmakers from forming the government, was taken to court by the election commission over its campaign to amend Thailand’s royal insult – or lese majeste – law under article 112 of the criminal code.
The party denies any wrongdoing.
The lese majeste law is also at the heart of the legal proceedings against Thaksin, who returned to Thailand last August after 15 years in self-imposed exile following his ouster from power by a military coup.
He is accused of violating the law, which carries a maximum jail sentence of up to 15 years for each perceived royal insult, during a media interview in 2015.
“He did not commit any wrongdoing and did not defame anyone protected by article 112,” Thaksin’s lawyer Winyat Chatmontre told reporters, adding that Thaksin has pleaded not guilty.
The billionaire successfully secured bail from the Criminal Court of Thailand soon after the Attorney-General formally indicted him earlier on Tuesday.
“The court has released Thaksin on bail of 500,000 baht (US$13,600) under the condition that he is prohibited from leaving the country unless granted permission,” a court statement said.
Source link : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/thailand-thaksin-shinawatra-indicted-court-political-crisis-4417441
Author :
Publish date : 2024-06-18 03:46:10
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.