Defamation case against BBC reporter in Thailand withdrawn
BANGKOK — A Thai lawyer has withdrawn a criminal defamation case against a British BBC journalist involving a report on foreigners being defrauded of property, the BBC says.
The case against Jonathan Head, BBC’s Southeast Asia correspondent, had begun Wednesday and has been criticized as an example of how Thailand’s harsh criminal defamation laws can be used to intimidate journalists.
The BBC said in a statement Wednesday that the plaintiff had withdrawn the case against Head, who said in a Twitter post Thursday that the charges against his co-defendant were also withdrawn.
“Charges against my co-defendant Ian Rance now also withdrawn,” Head said in the post. “Relief for me but Ian’s fight 4 justice & restoration of stolen assets goes on.”