Court acquits protesters involved in 2008 seizure of Don Mueang airport

9 Sept 16:21 Key points summarised by AI

A Thai Criminal Court acquitted 67 members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) of terrorism and multiple other charges stemming from the 2008 seizure of Don Mueang airport.
The court ruled there was insufficient prosecution evidence to prove the defendants disrupted airport operations or aeronautical communications.
The protests were acknowledged by the court as a response to the then-government's attempts to amend the Constitution and protect a political party from fraud charges.
This verdict is hailed as a significant recognition of the public's right to peaceful protest, bringing relief to defendants who faced charges for 17 years.
The acquittal follows a similar ruling in January where most leading PAD figures were also cleared of related charges in a separate trial.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Yesterday 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.