Criminal Court schedules August 22 for verdict in Thaksin’s Article 112 case

Criminal Court sets August 22 for Thaksin's lese majeste case verdict after final defence witness testimony, with Thaksin expected to attend.

The Criminal Court has scheduled August 22 to deliver its verdict in the case where former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is accused of lese majeste following an interview with South Korean media in 2015.

His lawyer, Winyat Chartmontree, told reporters that Thaksin would attend the court to hear the verdict at 10 am on August 22.
Winyat explained that the court set the hearing date after the defence team informed the court on Wednesday that they had presented enough testimony from defence witnesses.

The lawyer spoke to the media after the last defence witness hearing. The defence presented the testimonies of three key witnesses: former deputy prime minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, Tongthong Chandransu, former permanent secretary of the Prime Minister's Office, and Thaksin himself.After these three witnesses gave their accounts, the defence team informed the court that although they had initially prepared 14 witnesses, they now wished to rest their case. The hearing concluded at noon.

August 22 will mark the second anniversary of Thaksin’s return from self-imposed exile.
The lese majeste charges against Thaksin stem from an interview he gave to South Korean media (Chosun Ilbo) in May 2015, during which he allegedly mentioned privy councillors and the 2014 military coup that ousted the government of his younger sister, Yingluck Shinawatra.

On Wednesday, Thaksin arrived at the Criminal Court in his Mercedes Benz. His brother-in-law, Somchai Wongsawat, and a group of red-shirt supporters were also present to offer moral support.

After arriving, Thaksin avoided reporters by using a side entrance to the court building, where Winyat was waiting for him. Winyat then escorted Thaksin inside without speaking to the media before the hearing.

After the last hearing concluded at noon, Thaksin left in his car through Gate 7 of the court’s compound. As his car was leaving, Thaksin lowered the window to wave to his red-shirt supporters, causing them to cheer.

Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Winyat said he would submit the written closing statement to the court within 15 days.

When asked whether he was confident in the defence’s victory, Winyat replied:

“I believe we’ll receive justice. The evidence presented by the prosecutors was incomplete, and much of it consisted of the witnesses’ opinions.

“The defence tried to challenge this evidence by showing that these opinions were biased, coming from witnesses who have always been opposed to Thaksin.

“I must say that the prosecutors had no witnesses who could clearly prove Thaksin’s [alleged] wrongdoing.”

Asked about the testimonies of Wissanu and Tongthong, Winyat said they were key witnesses who could testify to Thaksin’s loyalty to the monarchy during his time as prime minister. He added that both were also qualified as witnesses due to their legal and linguistic expertise.

The lawyer further stated that Thaksin appeared in good spirits after the hearing, confident that he would receive justice in the case.

(2025/07/16-00:00)