Thaksin to attend pre-trial hearing in lèse majesté case - lawyer

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is scheduled to appear in person at the Criminal Court for an evidence examination as part of a pre-trial hearing in a lèse majesté case stemming from remarks he made during a foreign media interview ten years ago.

Thaksin’s lawyer, Winyat Chartmontree, said he will attend the session at 9 am

The former prime minister is required to be present as the court reviews evidence submitted by both the prosecution and the defense.

The Criminal Court has scheduled three consecutive days of witness hearings, from today through Thursday, running from 9 a.m. to 4.30pm.

Thaksin was released on bail of Bt500,000 after acknowledging the charge in August last year. He is prohibited from leaving Thailand without the court’s permission.

The lèse majesté charge stems from his comments during a 2015 interview with South Korean media outlet Chosun, which were deemed defamatory to the monarchy.

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