Photo: Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. \AFP

[Ta Kung Pao News]According to Reuters: The Criminal Court of Thailand issued a statement on the 18th saying that it accepted the prosecution of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra by the Office of the Attorney General of Thailand on the same day for allegedly insulting the monarch. If convicted, he will face up to 15 years in prison. The court subsequently approved Thaksin’s application for bail.

The statement pointed out that Thaksin’s remarks during an interview with foreign media in 2015 were suspected of violating Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code and the Computer Crimes Act. The court approved Thaksin’s bail application, requiring him to pay a bail of 500,000 Thai baht (about 110,000 Hong Kong dollars) and hand in his passport, and not to leave the country without permission. The court will hear the case again on August 19.

Thailand’s attorney general filed a lawsuit against Thaksin late last month, alleging he made critical and offensive remarks in Seoul, South Korea, in 2015 that were provocative to the monarchy. Thaksin denies all charges.

Thaksin, 74, served as Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006. In 2006, the military launched a coup to overthrow Thaksin’s government. In August 2023, Thaksin ended his years of exile and returned to Thailand, where he was immediately arrested by the police. Due to health reasons, Thaksin was transferred to the hospital for treatment on the second day of his sentence. In February this year, Thaksin was released on parole.

Analysts pointed out that Thaksin is considered to be the main force behind the Pheu Thai Party. His recent high-profile political activities across the country may have aroused dissatisfaction among domestic conservative forces. Thaksin’s prosecution this time may be a warning from his political opponents.