The Criminal Court on Monday issued a warrant for the arrest of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra after he failed to show up for the first hearing in a defamation case filed against him by the army.
The case was filed by Maj Gen Sarayuth Klinmahom, director of the Office of the Judge-Advocate of the Royal Thai Army.
Thaksin is accused of defaming the army during interviews in South Korea from May 19-22. The interviews were posted on YouTube and other online media.
In his interviews Thaksin falsely accused the army, portraying it as a "dreadful institution" and a danger to the nation, according to the lawsuit.
The court accepted the lawsuit for further proceedings and set Oct 12 for him to show up for witness examination.
His lawyer testified to the court this morning that his client could not be present since he is in political exile, residing in a foreign country.
The court found Thaksin had intention to evade the lawsuit and issued a warrant for his arrest. The statute of limitations in the case is 10 years.
In 2008, Thaksin was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison by the Supreme Court’s Division for Holders of Political Positions for abuse of power in the sale of state land to his then-wife when he was prime minister.
He fled Thailand before being sentenced and has since lived in self-exile abroad.