Attorney General Orders Appeal in Thaksin’s Section 112 Case, Reversing Earlier Decision

On November 17, 2025, The Office of the Attorney General, led by Attorney General Itthiporn Kaewtip, has ordered an appeal in the lese-majeste case (Section 112 of the Criminal Code) against Thaksin Shinawatra to the Court of Appeal. The case stems from an interview Thaksin gave to South Korean media in 2015 regarding the 2014 military coup. Since the matter is classified as an extraterritorial case, the authority to decide on the appeal rests directly with the Attorney General.

Recent reports indicate that the Attorney General considers Thaksin’s actions to constitute an offense as charged and should be reviewed by the Court of Appeal. The appeal order will be forwarded to the Criminal Case Office 8, which holds the case file, for formal submission to the appellate court. Previously, the deadline for filing an appeal had been extended to November 21, 2025.

The current decision represents a reversal of the earlier recommendation by the Section 112 review committee, which in September had voted 8:2 against appealing.

Photo: Thairath

At that time, Itthiporn, then Deputy Attorney General, chaired the committee but did not cast a vote, following the protocol for the chairperson. Officials clarified that the present appeal order is not a reversal of his own prior stance, as the final authority for extraterritorial Section 112 cases rests solely with the Attorney General, and the committee’s decision only serves as an advisory review, unlike standard domestic Section 112 cases.

Previously, the Criminal Court acquitted Thaksin, finding that his interview primarily criticized the 2014 coup and political affairs, mentioning only certain politicians and senior military officers without implicating the monarchy. The court ruled that the prosecution’s evidence was insufficient to meet the burden of proof for a criminal conviction.

The appeal has drawn close public attention, as it could directly affect Thaksin’s current status in prison and influence the broader political landscape in Thailand, particularly the future role and direction of the Pheu Thai Party.

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Source of material: official media /online news