Today is the last day for the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) to decide whether it will appeal the Criminal Court’s decision that last month to acquit former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of a lèse majesté charge.
The Criminal Court acquitted Thaksin on August 22 of charges stemming from his 2015 interview with South Korean media.
The case took place outside Thailand, so the Office of the Attorney-General holds sole authority to decide on an appeal. Public prosecutors have a 30-day window in which to file an appeal against the verdict, which expires today.
Earlier, a working panel of the office recommended against an appeal, but the Attorney-General will have the final say.
Thaksin is now serving a one-year prison term in Bang Khen Central Prison for abuse of power and corruption.
Meanwhile, two political activists, former senator Somchai Sawangkarn and Thai Pakdee party leader Dr. Warong Dechgitvigrom, voiced their opposition to a decision not to appeal.
Somchai opined that, if the office decides not to appeal, or fails to seek an extension of the deadline, it must take responsibility and could even face legal consequences.
Warong also urged the Attorney-General to pursue the case to the end. In an earlier Facebook post, he argued that a lèse majesté case is a matter of national security and should not be concluded with a single lower court ruling. He called for the Supreme Court to set a clear legal precedent.
He added that prosecutors must be mindful of public sentiment surrounding the acquittal, as society expects clarity and accountability in cases of such sensitivity.
