Thailand drops royal insult case against American academic

A royal insult prosecution against an American scholar in Thailand that raised concerns in the U.S. government has been dropped, his lawyer said Thursday, as authorities confirmed the academic had left the country.

BANGKOK — A royal insult prosecution against an American scholar in Thailand that raised concerns in the U.S. government has been dropped, his lawyer said Thursday, as authorities confirmed the academic had left the country.

Paul Chambers, 58, a political science lecturer, had been in legal limbo since his arrest last month on a lese-majeste charge, which led to the loss of his job, his work visa and the seizure of his passport.

“I am relieved that this situation has been resolved. I have always had great respect for the Thai royal family and anyone who knows me understands that these charges were always based on false allegations by unnamed parties in the military,” Chambers said in a statement issued by Global Reach, a non-profit dedicated to freeing Americans held abroad that worked with his family.

Chambers, who first came to Thailand as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1993, said he was returning to the U.S. but “will maintain my many friendships with the people of Thailand.”

Thailand has one of the world’s harshest lese-majeste laws, setting jail terms of up to 15 years for anyone convicted of defaming, insulting or threatening King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his close family.