The Supreme Court on Thursday acquitted Sondhi Limthongkul, leader of the defunct People's Alliance for Democracy, and sentenced Sarocha Porn-udomsak, a key PAD figure, to six months in jail, suspended for two years, with a 20,000 baht fine in a defamation suit brought against them by former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The lawsuit was filed against them by Thaksin's lawyer Somboon Kuptimanus in 2007. Manager Media Group Plc was also a defendant but the court earlier dropped the case against it.
The lawsuit stated Mr Sondhi and Ms Sarocha, who co-hosted the Yarm Fao Paendin (Guard of the Land) programme broadcast on ASTV, replayed a tape during the programme on Aug 24, 2007.
The tape featured Mr Sondhi's speeches made to PAD supporters in the US.
Mr Sondhi quoted former deputy prime minister Surakiart Sathirathai in his speeches as saying he severed his connections to Thaksin after the 2006 coup because Thaksin had verbally offended the royal institution.
The speeches were also published in Mr Sondhi's Manager daily newspaper.
The Court of First Instance on May 25, 2012 handed down six-month jail terms, suspended for two years, and fines of 20,000 baht each to Mr Sondhi and Ms Sarocha. The Appeal Court found the pair not guilty and acquitted them. Thakisn’s lawyer then appealed the ruling.