Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra acquitted in royal insult case | BBC News

A Bangkok court has acquitted billionaire and former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was accused of insulting the monarchy. The charge related to an interview he gave to a South Korean newspaper ten years ago, and he would have faced up to 15 years in jail if convicted. Thailand's lese majeste law forbids insulting its monarchy, but critics say it is often used to target activists and political opponents.