The Court acquires Thaksin Shinawatar in the Royal Insult case

Bangkok’s court justified a controversial billionaire and former Thai Prime Minister Taxin Shinawatra, who was accused of insulting the monarchy.

The prosecution related to an interview he gave to a South Korean newspaper ten years ago. He would have encountered up to 15 years in prison if he was sentenced.

The Les Majest Law of Thailand forbade the insult to his monarchy. But critics say it is often used to target activists and political opponents.

The verdict came when Takin’s daughter stopped Prime Minister Paetongtarn, faced a decision by the Constitutional Court whether it should be removed or not. These cases are a threat to the Shinatra clan, which has been a dominant force in Thai policy for decades.

Friday’s sentence brought some relief to the family and their supporters.

Winyat Charmontree, a Taksin lawyer, told reporters that after the sentence was read in court, his client smiles and thanks his lawyers. He had also said that he was now able to work for the benefit of the country.

The charge against Thaksin was initially raised under the then military government in 2016 when he was in exile and was reactivated last year after returning to Thailand.

At first glance, the case against him seemed weak.

In an interview with the South Korean newspaper, the former Prime Minister said he believed that the military coup in 2014, which had postponed the elected government of his sister Ingluk – just as he had been overthrown in 2006 – was encouraged by “some people in the Palace” and members of the Social Council.

Technically, the Secrets Council is not covered by the law of Lese Majeste, which states that it is a crime to slander only the King, Queen, the heir to the throne or someone who acts as a regent.

However, in recent years, the law has been summoned to criminalize any action or statement that can adversely affect the monarchy as an institution.

In the past, people have been pursued Adverse comments about the dog of the late King Bumibol and the 16th -century Thai King.

Most recently, a young woman was sentenced to five years in prison for placing a banner criticizing the budget to help those affected by Kovid, close to a portrait of King Vajiralongcorn.

The interpretation of the law has become so wide that human rights groups regard it as a political instrument that can be used to intimidate and jam out those who challenge the status quo.

Many believed that this was happening with Thaksin.

However, the judges chose to interpret the formulation of the law literally and said that since the defendant did not specify names, he must be justified.

This sentence comes exactly two years after the dramatic return of the former prime minister of 15 years of exile.

At that time, it was assumed that there was a big deal between Thaksin and his longtime conservative opponents, so his party Pheu Thai, which in the 2023 elections was brought second from its usual number one place, could form a coalition government and preserve the young reformers who actually won the elections from the power.

The terms of this deal have never been public – Thaksin has always insisted that there is no deal – but they probably included an agreement that it will retain a low profile and remain out of politics.

But the low profile is something completely alien to the blazing, rich and ambitious tycoon.

He is still believed to be the most large financier of Pheu Thai and makes all the basic decisions for the party.

When his first election as a Prime Minister, the businessman Sret Tavnin, was disqualified by the permanent interventional Constitutional Court a year ago, the inexperienced daughter of Taxin Pautongarn Shinatar took over the management, becoming the most acute prime minister of Thailand.

The self -written “Dad’s Girl”, she said she would gladly accept his advice. While she took office, Thaksin announced her “Vision for Thailand”, including a controversial proposal to legalize casinos; Much of this subsequently became an official policy.

The parliamentary opposition has accused the Shinawatar family of running Double Management. Thaksin’s business tied up with Cambodian strong Hun Saint, also expressed fears of how firmly Thailand would defend the border dispute between the two countries.

This came to the head in a private telephone conversation, leaking from Hun Saint, in which Paathongarn was heard to call him “Uncle”, and criticized her own commander of the army at the border, for which she was now halted by the Constitutional Court, which would decide if she had been fired in a week.

The loss of another Prime Minister in just one year, at a time of great global uncertainty, can be considered too risky. It is not clear who would replace Paetongtarn.

Thaksin faced another lawsuit next month because of his transfer to hospital to serve a previous sentence in prison. The price for him is allowed to stay out of prison may be that his party must call early elections, at a time when his poor performance in the government can lead to the loss of many of his places in parliament.