Bangkok: The Criminal Court has approved a request from the prosecutor to extend the appeal period by another 30 days in the high-profile l¨se-majest© case involving former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The case, which has drawn significant attention, concerns charges of defamation of the monarchy under Section 112 of the Criminal Code and the Computer Crimes Act.

According to Thai News Agency, the case stems from an interview Mr. Thaksin gave to a news agency in Seoul, South Korea, in 2015. The interview allegedly contained content that insulted the monarchy, leading the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Division 8, to file charges against him. This matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Attorney General (OAG) as it is considered an extraterritorial case. On August 22nd, the Criminal Court dismissed the charges against Mr. Thaksin, citing insufficient evidence. However, prosecutors have made multiple requests to extend the appeal period, with the most recent request extending the deadline to November 21st.

An investigation indicated that on November 19th, just two days before the previous appeal deadline, the Criminal Division 8 prosecutor submitted a request to the Appeals-Supreme Court Office for a third extension. This request was made to ensure that the appeal could be drafted thoroughly and meticulously.

The Criminal Court has now granted the Public Prosecutor’s Office 8 an extension until December 19th, allowing approximately 30 more days to file the appeal. This move underscores the ongoing complexity and sensitivity surrounding the case.