Thai ex‑PM Thaksin slated for royal slander trial.

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Set to Testify in Court

Thaksin Shinawatra is expected to appear on Wednesday to defend himself against accusations of royal defamation. The case, which could carry up to 15 years in prison, hinges on remarks he made to South Korean media a decade ago.

Background

• Thaksin, a 75‑year‑old telecom magnate, founded a political dynasty that has long challenged Thailand’s pro‑royal, pro‑military elite.
• After returning to Thailand in August 2023 after 15 years in exile, he was immediately sentenced to eight years for corruption. A pardon from King Maha Vajiralongkorn later reduced the sentence to one year.
• His daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was suspended by the Constitutional Court over a leaked diplomatic phone call, plunging the coalition government to a razor‑thin majority.

Key Points

Analysts say the prosecution, combined with Paetongtarn’s suspension, marks a dramatic decline in the Shinawatra family’s political fortune.