Thailand court grants Thaksin bail

BANGKOK — Thailand's former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra avoided pretrial detention for allegedly insulting the monarchy, after a criminal court granted him bail on Tuesday.

Thaksin reported himself to prosecutors on Tuesday morning and was indicted, Prayuth Bejraguna, a spokesman for the Office of the Attorney General, said at a news conference.

A car believed to be carrying Thaksin arrived at the criminal court in Bangkok, but he did not come out to meet reporters. His lawyer Winyat Chatmontree told reporters that Thaksin was ready to enter the judicial process. The same car left the court a few hours later after Thaksin was granted bail, and again he did not meet with waiting reporters.