Thaksin Shinawatra Must Serve One-Year Jail Term
Thailand’s Supreme Court has ruled that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra must serve a one-year prison sentence. The court decided that his earlier stay in a VIP hospital following his 2023 return did not count as lawful jail time.
VIP Hospital Stay Declared Invalid
Thaksin had originally faced an eight-year sentence for graft and abuse of power, later reduced to one year through royal clemency. He was released on parole after spending six months in hospital rather than prison. The court has now ruled that this arrangement was improper and does not fulfill the terms of his punishment.
Return to Politics and Loss of Influence
Thaksin, now 76, came back to Thailand in 2023 after 15 years in self-imposed exile. His return was seen as politically significant, but it also sparked concerns over preferential treatment. Following the ruling, he has been re-detained. His daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, recently lost her post as Prime Minister, and the Pheu Thai Party has been ousted from government.
