Thailand’s Ex-PM Thaksin Faces Up to 15 Years in Jail Over Royal Defamation Charges

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is on trial in Bangkok for royal defamation, facing up to 15 years in prison over comments made a decade ago to South Korean media. His testimony began as his daughter, Paetongtarn, was suspended as PM over a leaked call regarding a Thai-Cambodian border clash. Thaksin, who returned from exile in 2023, previously served prison time for corruption. The Shinawatra family's political influence is waning, with Paetongtarn’s scandal costing Pheu Thai key coalition support. Despite the charges, Thaksin has affirmed loyalty to the monarchy and thanked the king for a prior sentence reduction.