BANGKOK: A court in Thailand dismissed a royal insult case on Friday against influential former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, clearing the first hurdle in a series of high-stakes court rulings involving the powerful Shinawatra political dynasty.

The court said the case, brought by the royalist military stemming from a 2015 Thaksin interview with foreign media, lacked sufficient evidence to prove he had insulted the powerful monarchy, an offence punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

“Evidence from the plaintiff showed the interview by the defendant did not defame, insult or threaten the king, therefore the defendant is not guilty,” the criminal court in Bangkok said.

Wearing a yellow necktie, the colour associated with the palace, a smiling Thaksin had earlier announced the decision to reporters as he left the courthouse, outside of which about 150 of his red-shirted supporters had gathered.

The divisive 76-year-old tycoon remains a major force in Thai politics despite being retired and having previously spent 15 years in self-imposed exile before his return in 2023.

The billionaire has repeatedly pledged allegiance to the king, who is enshrined in the Thai constitution as being in a position of “revered worship”, with the palace seen by royalists as sacrosanct.

Thaksin’s case was the highest-profile among more than 280 prosecutions in recent years under the controversial lese-majeste law, which activists say has been abused to silence dissent.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2025