Thailand's attorney-general will indict former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for allegedly insulting the monarchy, an official said on Wednesday, in a setback to a political heavyweight whose loyalists are currently in government. - REUTERS
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00:00 Thailand will indict its former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for allegedly insulting
00:06 the monarchy.
00:07 The complaint, lodged by the Royalist military, had stemmed from an interview the influential
00:12 tycoon gave to foreign media in 2015.
00:16 The Attorney General's office said on Wednesday it had decided to indict Thaksin on all charges.
00:22 Other charges against him include violating a computer crime law.
00:25 The 74-year-old denies wrongdoing and has repeatedly pledged his loyalty to the crown,
00:31 criticism of which is forbidden under Thailand's Lays Majesty Law, which is one of the world's
00:35 strictest of its kind.
00:37 It's a setback to a political heavyweight whose loyalists are currently in government.
00:42 Thaksin would be the highest profile case among more than 270 prosecutions in recent
00:47 years under the controversial law, which carries a maximum jail term of 15 years for each perceived
00:53 insult of the royal family.
00:56 Thaksin's lawyer said a comprehensive defense had been prepared and his client would seek
01:00 bail.
01:01 He also questioned the authenticity of the video of the interview in which the alleged
01:05 insult was made.
01:07 The announcement of Thaksin's indictment comes days after an opposition lawmaker and an activist
01:12 musician were given jail terms for alleged insults of the crown.
01:16 The palace typically does not comment on the law.
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