Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a powerful backer of the ruling government, was formally indicted for allegedly insulting the monarchy in 2015, in one of several court cases that have unsteadied Thai politics.
Thaksin, an influential political figure despite being ousted from power 18 years ago, reported to prosecutors just before 9am on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the office of the attorney general said at a news conference.
Thaksin was granted bail shortly after the attorney general formally indicted the 74-year-old billionaire.
Thaksin is seen as the unofficial power behind the Pheu Thai-led government. He has travelled the country making public appearances and political observations that could upset powerful figures on the establishment side.
Prosecution of the long-ago lese-majesty case is seen by some analysts as a warning from his powerful enemies that he should tone down his political activities.
The law on defaming the monarchy, an offence known as lese-majesty, is punishable by three to 15 years in prison. It is among the harshest such laws globally and has been used in Thailand to punish government critics.
Thaksin was ousted by an army coup in 2006 that set off years of deep political polarisation. He was originally charged with lese-majesty in 2016 for remarks he made a year earlier to journalists in South Korea. The case was not pursued at that time because he went into exile in 2008.
He voluntarily returned to Thailand last year and was immediately taken into custody on charges related to corruption and abuse of power, but served virtually all of his sentence in a hospital rather than prison on medical grounds. He was granted release on parole in February.
Thaksin returned as the Pheu Thai party, seen as his political machine, joined with its longstanding rivals in the conservative establishment to form a government. The minimal punishment that he faced was interpreted as part of a deal to keep the progressive Move Forward party that finished first in last year’s election out of power, though no deal was publicly acknowledged.
Thaksin’s case is the first of four high-profile cases involving key political players that are before the courts on Tuesday, in the latest legal wrangling that could see Thailand plunged into a new period of uncertainty.
The cases involve some of Thailand’s most powerful politicians, including its current prime minister, and could deepen a decades-old rift between the conservative-royalist establishment and its opponents, such as the populist ruling Pheu Thai party and the opposition Move Forward party.
On Tuesday, the constitutional court will conduct a hearing in a case lodged by a group of senators seeking the suspension from office of the prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, for appointing a lawyer with a conviction record to his cabinet. Srettha said last month he was confident the appointment of lawyer Phichit Chuenban was legally sound and made in good faith.
The same court will also hear a case seeking to disband the popular opposition Move Forward party for its campaign to amend the country’s royal insult law, following a complaint by the Election Commission.
The court is expected to announce the next hearing or verdict date for cases involving Srettha and Move Forward on Tuesday.
The constitutional court will also rule on whether the selection process for a new upper house, which started earlier this month and is scheduled to conclude in early July, is lawful.
If the court cancels or delays the process, it would temporarily extend the term of military-appointed senators who have a played crucial role in the formation of the previous government.
Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report