Thai Criminal Court issues arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Thaksin

Thailand's Criminal Court on October 12 issued an arrest warrant for former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra after he failed to appear at the first hearing in a lawsuit against him for allegedly defaming the Thai military.

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. (Source: gettyimages.com)

The lawsuit against Mr. Thaksin was filed by Major General Sarayuth Klinmahom, Director of the Royal Thai Army Legal Office.

According to the lawsuit, Mr. Thaksin defamed the military in interviews in South Korea from May 19-22.

The interview was then posted on YouTube and other online sites.

In an interview, former Prime Minister Thaksin denounced the Thai military, saying it was a "disgusting institution" and a threat to the country.

The Thai Criminal Court accepted the lawsuit and set a deadline of October 12 for Mr. Thaksin to appear in court. However, on the morning of October 12, only his lawyer appeared, explaining that his client was a political refugee.

In 2008, former Prime Minister Thaksin was sentenced to two years in prison by the Supreme Court of Thailand for abusing his power to sell state land to his ex-wife.

According to VNA