What happened
A business professional in Phuket was sued for criminal defamation following public statements. The claimant alleged defamation through publication or advertising. The client was concerned about the effect of the case on their reputation and business.
What we did
We reviewed the complaint and the words at issue. Our position was that, although the statements might be impolite, they did not meet the elements of criminal defamation alleged in this case.
We represented the client at the preliminary hearing and challenged the claimant's interpretation of the statements. The focus was on whether there were sufficient grounds for the criminal case to proceed.
The outcome in this case
The court agreed that the complaint lacked sufficient grounds and dismissed it at the preliminary-hearing stage. The matter therefore ended before a full criminal trial.