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Thai court dismisses defamation case against UK activist Andy Hall | Thai court dismisses defamation case against UK activist Andy Hall |
(35 minutes later) | |
A Thai court has dismissed a criminal defamation case against a British labour activist who criticised conditions in the food industry. | |
A Thai pineapple company brought the case against Andy Hall after a report he wrote which alleged labour abuses by the firm and others. | A Thai pineapple company brought the case against Andy Hall after a report he wrote which alleged labour abuses by the firm and others. |
The court said the investigation into the case did not meet certain legal requirements. | |
Mr Hall faces more charges of violating Thailand's computer crimes act. | |
Last year, Mr Hall authored a report for Finnwatch, a Finland-based watchdog, alleging poor labour conditions in seafood and pineapple export companies in Thailand. | Last year, Mr Hall authored a report for Finnwatch, a Finland-based watchdog, alleging poor labour conditions in seafood and pineapple export companies in Thailand. |
The allegations include wages below the legal minimum, long working hours at factories and illegally confiscating passports. | |
Natural Fruit, which brought the charges, was one of the companies named and denies the findings of the report. | |
The defamation charges relate to an interview Mr Hall gave to the Al-Jazeera network on the allegations in the report while in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). | The defamation charges relate to an interview Mr Hall gave to the Al-Jazeera network on the allegations in the report while in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). |
"Hall gave the interview outside of the Kingdom of Thailand therefore the investigation into the case had to include a team of police and officials from the attorney-general's office," a judge said. | "Hall gave the interview outside of the Kingdom of Thailand therefore the investigation into the case had to include a team of police and officials from the attorney-general's office," a judge said. |
"However, there was only one police officer at the time of his interrogation, therefore we deem the investigation to be incomplete." | "However, there was only one police officer at the time of his interrogation, therefore we deem the investigation to be incomplete." |
On Finnwatch's Facebook page Mr Hall said: "I'm delighted at today's court ruling. It's real victory for migrant workers, labour rights, rule of law, freedom of expression in Thailand". | On Finnwatch's Facebook page Mr Hall said: "I'm delighted at today's court ruling. It's real victory for migrant workers, labour rights, rule of law, freedom of expression in Thailand". |
A lawyer for Natural Fruit said the company would appeal against the decision. Mr Hall also still faces a number of other civil and criminal defamation cases brought by the firm. | A lawyer for Natural Fruit said the company would appeal against the decision. Mr Hall also still faces a number of other civil and criminal defamation cases brought by the firm. |
He has also been charged with violation of the computer crimes act, which holds a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. | He has also been charged with violation of the computer crimes act, which holds a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. |
The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says Thailand's treatment of migrant workers has come under ever increasing international scrutiny. | |
Thailand imports migrant labour from neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, Cambodia and Myanmar for farming, fishing and construction jobs. | |
However, many work without official permits and are paid below minimum wage. | However, many work without official permits and are paid below minimum wage. |