Court issues arrest warrant for former PM Thaksin

Thailand’s criminal court on Monday issued an arrest warrant for fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra after he failed to appear for the first hearing in a defamation case filed by the Royal Thai Army.

Thaksin, 66, who has been on a self-imposed exile in Dubai since he was overthrown in a military coup in 2006, is accused of defaming the army during interviews in South Korea in May.

The interviews were posted on YouTube and other online media.

The case was filed by Major General Sarayuth Klinmahom, director of the Office of the Judge-Advocate of the Royal Thai Army.

In his interviews, Thaksin falsely accused the army, portraying it as a “dreadful institution” and a danger to the nation, Bangkok Post reported citing the lawsuit.

The court accepted the lawsuit for further proceedings and set October 12 for him to show up for witness examination.

His lawyer testified to the court this morning that his client could not be present since he is in political exile, residing in a foreign country.