Hall indictment decision due

The Southern Criminal Court will decide next month if British migrant rights worker Andy Hall will be indicted in a defamation suit brought by a key pineapple juice producer.

Three witnesses for the plaintiff, including a Prachuap Khiri Khan labour official, a Natural Fruit Co manager, and a staff member of a law firm testified on the final day of a preliminary hearing yesterday.

The fruit exporter is taking defamation action over claims Mr Hall made at a FinnWatch press briefing on Jan 21, 2013, for a report about alleged labour right violations at the company. The witnesses said the firm has adapted labour practices according to labour audit recommendations.

The defence lawyer cross-examined them, and the court said its decision on the indictment would be read on Aug 24.

Natural Fruit has brought two criminal defamation and computer crimes cases against Mr Hall who took part as a researcher for the report. The company also has filed two civil defamation lawsuits seeking damages of over 300 million baht.