BANGKOK (Realist English). Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand’s ousted prime minister and longtime political heavyweight, appeared in a Bangkok court this week to testify in a closed-door trial over charges of royal defamation — a case that could see him imprisoned for up to 15 years.
The charges stem from comments Thaksin allegedly made in a 2015 interview with South Korean media, which prosecutors say violated Thailand’s strict lèse-majesté laws protecting the monarchy from criticism. The 75-year-old tycoon-turned-politician is expected to testify for at least three days. A verdict is not anticipated for several weeks.
The trial comes at a delicate moment for the Shinawatra family. Just two weeks ago, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s daughter and political heir, was suspended as prime minister, dealing a heavy blow to the family’s political movement — long a populist counterweight to Thailand’s entrenched royalist and military elites.
Legal experts say the parallel troubles facing father and daughter may mark the beginning of the end for a dynasty that has dominated Thai politics for over two decades.
Outside the courthouse, about 50 supporters gathered in red shirts, the emblematic color of Thaksin’s political base, many carrying portraits of his face.
“He is a very talented guy,” said Vaew Wilailak, a 79-year-old retired accountant. “But from past experience, bad people just want to get rid of him.”
Thaksin’s lawyer, Winyat Chatmontri, confirmed his client began testifying Wednesday morning and would continue throughout the day.
The case has reignited debate over Thailand’s lèse-majesté laws, which critics argue are often used to silence political dissent.
