A Bangkok court on Friday cleared Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of royal defamation charges that saw him facing jail time.
The 76-year-old faced up to 15 years in prison, but judges found him not guilty, easing a serious legal threat to his family’s political movement.
What were the charges against Thaksin?
Prosecutors accused Thaksin of breaching Thailand’s lese majeste law, which criminalizes criticism of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his family.
Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who leads the Pheu Thai party, became prime minister last year.
However, the Shinawatras’ political star has since waned, with opinion polls showing declining public support.
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