BANGKOK (ANN/THE NATION) – Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been paroled from his commuted one-year imprisonment, expressed confidence he would be released on bail, asserting that the case against him is one of political persecution by the 2014 coup architects.
Thaksin missed his May 29 appointment at the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) due to a COVID-19 infection. The attorney-general agreed to postpone his arraignment to June 18. In 2015, Thaksin allegedly claimed in a South Korean media interview that privy councillors supported the 2014 coup by then Army chief General Prayut Chan-o-cha to oust his sister Yingluck Shinawatra’s government.
“Now, I have recovered. This time, my condition was not as serious as when I first contracted COVID,” Thaksin said on Saturday. “I had my lawyer inform the OAG that I could not be present because I feared spreading the virus. I’ll definitely be there to hear the indictment order on June 18 as I won’t have any reason to ask for another postponement.”
Thaksin noted that the hearing of the attorney-general’s order has been postponed twice – once by the attorney-general after his lawyer appealed for fairness and the second time due to his COVID infection.
Asked if he was concerned about not being released on bail, Thaksin replied, “The case is nothing. It almost has no legal ground.” He described the case as a “poison fruit from a poison tree,” referring to the 2014 coup, and alleged that investigators were pressured by commanders to build a strong case against him.
When asked if he had made any deals regarding the case, Thaksin replied, “Nothing. But if there is anyone to meddle with it, it must be someone in the forests.” This comment was seen as a reference to General Prawit Wongsuwan, a key player in the 2014 coup and leader of the Palang Pracharath Party, who also chairs a foundation for forest protection.
Thaksin denied speculation that he was attempting to flee the country.
Thaksin made these statements while attending a reception party for the ordainment of the son of Thanyaburi Municipality mayor Krissada Linavarat, held at the municipality’s public ground in Pathum Thani province. His youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Pheu Thai Party leader, accompanied him. The reception featured a 2,000-table banquet for guests.
Thaksin received a hero’s welcome at the event, with many attendees shouting “We love Thaksin” and asking for photos with him. He mentioned that he and his daughter were invited to the ceremony because the ordained person was a younger brother of a Pheu Thai MP.
