BANGKOK, THAILAND – The legal tug-of-war over former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s high-profile royal insult case continued as a criminal court granted prosecutors yet another extension to file an appeal.
Third extension granted shortly before deadline
Prosecutors from Criminal Court 8 applied for an extension shortly before the original appeal deadline expired on 21 November. It was already the third request of its kind in the case.
The court agreed and moved the cut-off date to 19 December 2025, after prosecutors argued they needed more time to prepare the appeal thoroughly.
“They wanted to avoid mistakes,”
said sources close to the matter.
Role of the attorney general under speculation
Before the latest decision, there had been speculation that Attorney General Ittiporn Kaewthip had ordered an appeal in the case. The new extension kept those discussions alive without confirming any final decision.
The move indicated that the Office of the Attorney General was still weighing its options on whether to challenge the lower court’s ruling.
Serious charges over 2015 interview in Seoul
The accusations against Thaksin Shinawatra stemmed from a 2015 interview with a news channel in Seoul, South Korea. He was alleged to have insulted the monarchy during that appearance abroad.
He was charged with violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse-majesté provision, and the Computer Crime Act. Because the statements were made outside Thailand, the central office of the public prosecutor was responsible for the case.
Surprise acquittal now at risk
On 22 August this year, the court of first instance acquitted Thaksin of the charges. The ruling was widely seen as a surprising turn in one of Thailand’s most controversial legal battles.
The new extension opened the door for prosecutors to potentially overturn that acquittal through an appeal, depending on how they finalize their arguments.
Extension underscores sensitivity and complexity
The repeated prolongation of the deadline underlined how sensitive and complex the proceedings had become. It gave the prosecution more time to refine its legal reasoning and documentation.
Officials’ insistence on avoiding errors suggested that the state was seriously considering an appeal and aimed to build a watertight case. The new 19 December date now marked the next key milestone in a years-long legal dispute that continued to grip Thai politics.
Uncertain outcome ahead of December deadline
The third extension kept tension high around the Section 112 proceedings as the new deadline approached. Observers noted that the acquittal could either stand or be challenged with a forceful appeal once prosecutors reached a final decision.
Until 19 December, all options in the case formally remained on the table, leaving open the possibility that the entire matter could be reopened and litigated once more.