Event Summary
On 17 November 2025, Mr. Murray Hunter, an Australian independent journalist residing in Thailand, who has covered various political and governance issues in Malaysia, was indicted under Section 328 (defamation by publication) of the Thai Criminal Code (Black Case No. Aor. 2120/2568). This case stems from four articles that were published on his Substack between 13 and 29 April 2024, that, according to the public prosecutor, allegedly defamed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), a Malaysian government agency that filed a complaint. If convicted, Mr. Hunter faces a maximum prison term of eight years and a fine not exceeding 800,000 baht. Due to the ongoing criminal proceedings, authorities have confiscated his passport to prevent him from leaving the country. If sentenced to imprisonment, he faces the risk of involuntary deportation under the Immigration Act of 1979. The next court hearing at the Bangkok South Criminal Court is scheduled for 22 December 2025.
This case could lead to a change in precedent of other countries utilizing Thailand’s Criminal Code to prosecute dissenters in Thailand. In other words, this risks opening the door to more translational SLAPP cases in the future.