Arrest warrant against former Thai PM Thaksin
Bernama
Oktober 12, 2015 12:57 MYT
Oktober 12, 2015 12:57 MYT
Thaksin was sued by a member of the Royal Thai Army for defaming the force during his interviews in South Korea from May 19-22.
The Criminal Court of Thailand on Monday issued an arrest warrant against former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra after he failed to turn up for the first hearing of a defamation case filed against him by the army, reports Vietnam News Agency (VNA)
Maj Gen Sarayuth Klinmahom, Director of the Office of the Judge-Advocate of the Royal Thai Army, sued Thaksin for defaming the army during his interviews in South Korea from May 19-22.
According to VNA the court accepted the lawsuit for further proceedings and set Monday for the hearing.
However, only his lawyer was present and testified to the court that Thaksin could not be present since he is in political exile, residing in a foreign country.
In 2008, Thaksin was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison by the Supreme Court for abuse of power in the sale of state land to his then-wife when he was prime minister.