Thai Court Acquits Opposition Leader of Royal Defamation and Cybercrime Charges
A Thai criminal court acquitted Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of the Progressive Movement, of charges including royal defamation and cybercrime related to a 2021 Facebook livestream. Thanathorn criticized the government's COVID-19 vaccine rollout and the awarding of a contract to a company owned by King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The court ruled his comments targeted the then-Prime Minister and lacked malicious intent toward the monarchy. Acquittals in lese majeste cases are rare amid Thailand's conservative political climate.