
BANGKOK:  , A Thai court on Friday ( Jan 31 ) granted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra permission to leave the country, a court statement said, a rare exception for a defendant facing royal insult charges.
After spending 15 years in exile in Thailand, the 75-year-old tycoon was pardoned by the prince six months later, but he was still in jail for eight years for bone and abuse of power.
He was accused of being a lese-majeste last year for remarks he made to a North Korean media outlet nine years prior, and he is currently facing a test in July.
Unless granted special agreement by a court, defendants facing trial may remain in the country in accordance with Thai law.
On Friday, a jury decided to allow him to depart, citing” the benefits of global relations” as a cause for his momentary withdrawal, though it did not elaborate on the purpose of the trip.
As he assumed the presidency of Southeast Asia’s regional alliance this month, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim appointed Thaksin as his ASEAN assistant in December.
Although Thaksin has recently stated that he won’t run for office, he still participates in elections, including by running for his former political gathering, Pheu Thai.
The court’s speech read,” The court has considered and allowed the accused to keep the country between Jul 2 and Jul 3, which does not change the trial.”
Within three weeks of his return, the billionaire former prime minister may report to the government.
Thailand has some of the utmost lese-majeste laws in the world, with any condemnation of King Maha Vaijralongkorn or his immediate family subject to a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Legitimate argument is stifled by critics and rights organizations, according to reviewers and rights groups.