Thai appeals court throws out case against British...
An appeal court in Thailand has dismissed criminal defamation charges against a British labour rights activist who was sued by a fruit packing company after he alleged human rights violations at its factory.
Andy Hall’s protracted legal battle stemmed from a 2013 report he researched for Finnish consumer organisation Finnwatch which alleged labour abuses at Natural Fruit’s pineapple canning operation.
It employed migrant workers from Burma who said the company abused them and broke labour regulations.
Andy Hall talks to reporters at the Supreme Court in Bangkok
Sunya Joongdee, a lawyer for Mr Hall, said the court ruling dismissed the criminal defamation case, which also resulted in the collapse of a related computer crime case.
He said the court accepted Mr Hall’s interviews with migrant workers revealed information that should be made public.