Thai court clears Australian writer after Malaysian defamation case withdrawn

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Associated PressFebruary 16, 2026 at 04:34 PM

AI Summary

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A Thai court formally cleared Australian resident Murray Hunter in a defamation case on Monday after the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) withdrew the charges. The case stemmed from articles Hunter posted on his Substack newsletter. The MCMC had previously acknowledged reaching a settlement agreement on January 12 to drop both criminal proceedings in Thailand and a civil case in Malaysia against Hunter. Free speech advocates had criticized the case as an example of cross-border repression, with organizations like IFEX, PEN International, Human Rights Watch, and the Committee to Protect Journalists protesting Hunter's arrest. These groups expressed concern over Malaysia's use of defamation laws to target individuals outside its borders, potentially silencing critical voices.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Australia 40% PEN International 50% Committee to Protect Journalists 50% Human Rights Watch 50% IFEX 60% Thailand ×270% Malaysia ×380% Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) ×285% Murray Hunter ×490%

Keywords

defamation case 90% free speech 80% cross-border repression 70% slapp 70% transnational repression 60% murray hunter 60% malaysian communications and multimedia commission 60% thai court 50% criminal defamation laws 50% settlement agreement 40%