Former Thai PM Thaksin indicted for royal defamation

Former Thai PM Thaksin

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was granted release on bail hours after he was formally indicted Tuesday on a charge of defaming the country's monarchy in one of several court cases that have rattled Thai politics.

Thaksin, an influential political figure despite being ousted from power in a coup 18 years ago, reported himself to prosecutors Tuesday and was indicted, Prayuth Bejraguna, a spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney General, said.

Thaksin, 74, voluntarily returned to Thailand last year from self-imposed exile and served virtually all of his sentence on corruption-related charges in a hospital rather than prison on medical grounds. He was granted release on parole in February. His removal from power led to a political polarisation in the country.

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