BANGKOK: A Thai court on Friday granted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra permission to leave the country, a court statement said, a rare exception for a defendant facing royal insult charges.

The 75-year-old billionaire was jailed for eight years on graft and abuse of power after he returned to Thailand two years ago following 15 years in exile, though he was pardoned by the king six months later. Last year, he was charged with lese-majeste over comments he made to a South Korean media outlet nine years previously, and is set to face trial in July.