Andy Hall case dismissed by court

Latest: A Thai court has just dismissed defamation charges against British activist Andy Hall. More details shortly. The case has generated great international interest and criticism of the Thai company involved.

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Andy Hall charges dismissed

11:20

Here is a little more explanation of the verdict from AFP:

A judge at the Bangkok court said the police probe, which stemmed from an interview with television network Al-Jazeera, was flawed as it did not involve a Thai state prosecutor from the start.

"The investigation was not legal, which means the plaintiff has no legal right to file a complaint... the court dismisses the case," the judge – who was not named by the court – ruled.

Meanwhile, Andy Hall himself says he will take legal action against those involved in the flawed investigation.

"Thailand's law enforcement officials should be held responsible for their unlawful conduct. Thailand's justice system should be commended!," he said through twitter.

"(I) Will now petition the justice ministry (to) investigate action of attorney general prosecutors, police officers in bringing unlawful case against me."

10:20

It looks like round one of the court battle has gone to Andy Hall. Here is his own tweet just a few minutes ago. His twitter account is being flooded with notes of congratulations. Follow it here: @Atomicalandy

And this confirmation from the Bangkok post's Achara Ashayagachat:

Once again, here is Andy's tweet with vocabulary explained (Check the vocabulary list below as well): The charge is dismissed due to unlawful interrogation process under section 120 of the criminal procedure code.

More later.

Morning story

This story is attracting great international interest. The court verdict should be announced very shortly and I'll have more than. First here is some background from an AFP story published yesterday.

Andy Hall verdict due Wednesday

AFP – A British activist faces a verdict Wednesday in a defamation trial linked to a report he co-authored alleging severe labour abuses in Thailand's food industry, a key supplier to Western supermarkets.

British rights' activist Andy Hall answers reporters' questions as he arrives for a hearing at a court in Bangkok on September 2, 2014

Andy Hall, 34, could face up to a year in jail if convicted of defamation – a criminal offence in Thailand – after Thai fruit processing giant Natural Fruit made the complaint against him.

Hall's report investigating working conditions at a fruit processing factory belonging to Natural Fruit in southern Thailand levelled accusations of forced and child labour, unlawfully low wages and long hours.

Natural Fruit, a major supplier to the European drink market, denies the allegations.

But Hall stands by his research and has accused the company of trying to undermine the report's findings through its legal action.

"I'm very confident the court will find that I did not have any negative intent towards the company and we carried out this (report) in the public interest," he told AFP ahead of the verdict.

"We had many witnesses including from the company ... and there's no evidence to suggest I am guilty, I expect to win the case."

A court official said the ruling will begin around 9 am local time (0200 GMT).

The case relates to an interview Hall gave to the Al-Jazeera television network over his 2013 report for Finnish rights watchdog Finnwatch called "Cheap Has a High Price".

More serious charges await under the computer crime act – which carry up to seven years in jail for each count – and are due to be heard in November.

The fruit processor is also seeking $10 million through a civil suit.

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