Former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra says his royal insult case has been dismissed

A court in Thailand on Friday dismissed a royal insult case against influential former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire and his lawyer said.

BANGKOK — A court in Thailand on Friday dismissed a royal insult case against influential former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire and his lawyer said, the first in a series of high-stakes rulings involving the powerful Shinawatra dynasty.

The court later confirmed it had dismissed the case, saying there was not enough evidence to prove wrongdoing.

“The case was dismissed,” Thaksin told reporters with a smile as he left the courthouse.

His lawyer earlier confirmed the decision to Reuters but gave no reason for the dismissal.

The case was brought by the royalist military alleging Thaksin, 76, had violated Thailand’s strict lese-majeste law during a 2015 interview with foreign media while in self-imposed exile.