The country's attorney general is considering starting legal proceedings against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for making insulting comments about the monarchy. The spokesperson of the Attorney General's office said this on Tuesday.
Another case against Thaksin is expected just weeks before he is set to be released on parole after being convicted of abuse of power.
The Thai military government filed charges that Thaksin insulted the monarchy in an interview while in South Korea in 2015. This government came to power after overthrowing the government led by Thaksin's sister. Thaksin has repeatedly pledged loyalty to the monarchy.
Thailand's lese majeste law (insult to the king and monarchy) is one of the strictest laws in the world. Under this law no criticism of the king or the royal family can be made.
A person convicted under this Act can be imprisoned for a maximum of 15 years.
Thaksin Shinawatra was the Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006. After 15 years of voluntary exile, he returned to the country last August to serve an 8-year prison sentence. The sentence was announced against him in a case related to abuse of power. Later, however, Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn reduced his sentence to one year.
Thaksin has been detained in a hospital since his imprisonment. He has not spent a full night in jail so far. He is expected to be released on parole at the end of this month.
Thailand's attorney general's office spokesman Prayuth Pechkhun told reporters that because Thaksin was abroad, there had been a seven-year delay in starting proceedings against him on charges of contempt of the monarchy. However, he did not mention any time frame when a decision will be taken in this regard.
Pechkhun said Thaksin, 74, denied the allegations. The former prime minister has given a letter to the authorities to maintain transparency in this regard.
Pechkhun did not elaborate on the allegations against Thaksin.
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