Thai court clears influential ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra in royal insult case

BANGKOK, Aug 22: 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.    �"REUTERS