The Criminal Court on Monday dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought by former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra against Democrat deputy spokesperson Mallika Boonmeetrakul, who criticised her for going to a private meeting with businessmen instead of attending a meeting of parliament.
Ms Yingluck was a co-complainant, with public prosecutors, in accusing Mrs Mallika of defamation for saying she behaved improperly in meeting businessmen at the Four Seasons Hotel on Feb 8, 2012, instead of attending a meeting of the House of Representatives.
Mrs Mallika made the comments on Feb 19 and 20, 2012.
The court ruled that Ms Yingluck had not called the businessmen to testify on her behalf and she had neither informed the mass media of the meeting, nor clarified the issue.
Therefore, Mrs Mallika had the right to criticise her actions and this was not viewed as defaming Ms Yingluck, the court ruled.
The former prime minister had previously been criticised for skipping the House sitting to attend the meeting at the hotel with former deputy prime minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong and a group of businessmen including Srettha Thavisin, who is president of property developer Sansiri Plc.