The Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the Appeals Court's acquittal of former Democrat Party spokesman Chavanont Intarakomalyasut, upholding a lower court sentence of two years in jail, suspended for two years, and a fine of 100,000 baht for defaming former foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.
In a 2011 lawsuit, Mr Surapong charged Mr Chavanont had defamed him in remarks made on Sept 24-25 that year.
The Democrat Party spokesman had said at a news conference that Mr Surapong, then foreign minister, had acted to benefit Cambodia in a territorial dispute by removing Assada Jayanam from the position of chairman of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) and Veerachai Palasai from membership of the JBC. Mr Surapong said the wrongful accusation damaged his reputation.
On Aug 6, 2014, the Criminal Court found Mr Chavanont guilty as charged and sentenced him to two years in jail and a 100,000-baht fine. The jail sentence was suspended for two years on the grounds he did not have a prior criminal conviction.
The Appeals Court found Chavanont not guilty and acquitted him. The plaintiff then appealed to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled in favour of the plaintiff, saying that Mr Chavanont had not raised the issue honestly.