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A writer is cleared by Thai court after Malaysian agency withdraws defamation case
Settlement on Jan. 12 led to dropping criminal and civil defamation cases against Murray Hunter, with about 10 articles retracted, ending cross-border legal dispute.
- On Monday, the Thai court formally withdrew the defamation case by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission against Murray Hunter after mediation.
- The dispute began with articles on Hunter's Substack, raising alarms about transnational SLAPPs, and the Thai lawyer warned `the process is the punishment` in such cases.
- He was arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport last year, jailed overnight, released on 20,000 baht bail with his passport seized; the defamation charge carries a two-year maximum prison term and 200,000 baht fine, and Hunter said his Substack was unblocked in Malaysia.
- Hunter apologised and retracted about 10 articles, and the charge was withdrawn in the Bangkok South Criminal Court with no costs or penalties; he got his passport back and plans to stay in Thailand while writing a book.
- Free-Speech advocates expressed alarm, calling the case a form of cross-border repression as PEN International, Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists protested Hunter's arrest and warned Malaysia's use of criminal defamation laws was alarming.
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Malaysia drops defamation case against Australian in Thailand
Malaysia has withdrawn a criminal defamation complaint lodged in Thailand against an Australian journalist, his lawyer said on Tuesday, after he agreed to apologise and take down articles deemed defamatory.
·Bangkok, Thailand
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Associated Press News+8 Reposted by 8 other sources
A writer is cleared by Thai court after Malaysian agency withdraws defamation case
Malaysia’s telecoms regulator has dropped a defamation case in Thailand against Australian writer Murray Hunter after mediation. The case has caused concern among free speech advocates because it was seen
·United States
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Total News Sources17
Leaning Left4Leaning Right4Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Center
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources are Center
43% Center
L 29%
C 43%
R 28%
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