A Thai court has dismissed a high-profile royal defamation case against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, citing insufficient evidence.

“The case was dismissed,” Thaksin told reporters with a smile after the ruling on Friday. His lawyer, Winyat Chatmontree, confirmed the court found the evidence presented was not strong enough to proceed. The Bangkok Criminal Court later issued its own statement, confirming the dismissal.

The charges stemmed from a 2015 interview in which Thaksin allegedly violated Thailand’s strict lese-majeste law while commenting on the 2014 military coup that ousted his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, from power. The case was filed by the royalist military.

Thaksin, 76, has denied any wrongdoing and repeatedly affirmed his loyalty to the monarchy. His case was considered one of the most prominent among more than 280 lese-majeste prosecutions in recent years. Critics argue the law has been used to silence dissent and weaken political opponents, while royalists insist it is vital to protect the crown.

Despite years in self-imposed exile before his return in 2023, Thaksin remains an influential figure in Thai politics. His family’s political dynasty, however, faces mounting challenges. His daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 39, is awaiting a Constitutional Court ruling next week on an alleged ethics violation linked to a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen. A guilty verdict could remove her from office.

Thaksin also faces a separate legal test in September when the Supreme Court will decide whether his six months in hospital detention before his 2024 parole should count toward his sentence for past abuse of power and conflict of interest convictions. If not, he could be required to return to prison.

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