Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to begin a year-long prison term: Explanation provided
In a landmark ruling, the Thai Supreme Court has ordered former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to serve a one-year prison term for graft and abuse of power charges. This decision comes after Thaksin's self-imposed exile that lasted over a decade.
Thaksin, who was prime minister from 2001 until a military coup ousted him in 2006, was brought to the Bangkok Police General Hospital in 2023 immediately after his conviction, due to alleged health problems. However, the Supreme Court later ruled that his hospitalization was not legally justified as his illness was not urgent, and the hospital stay could not count as serving a prison sentence. This move was widely criticized and seen as a way to avoid proper jail time before he was ordered to serve his sentence in prison.
The court found that Thaksin was sent directly to the police hospital without being assessed by prison doctors, which was a violation of procedures. The court's statement also indicated that evidence showed Thaksin's condition on that night was treatable by the prison's hospital.
Thaksin's eight-year sentence was commuted to one year by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, and he was released on parole after six months in the hospital. Upon his return, Thaksin was sent to a suite at Bangkok's Police General Hospital for medical reasons.
Thaksin's ouster triggered nearly two decades of deep political polarization in Thailand. His family, including his children Pintongta Shinawatra and former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, were present at the court proceedings.
Paetongtarn spoke to reporters after the ruling, thanking the king for commuting Thaksin's sentence. She stated that Thaksin would remain a spiritual leader in Thai politics and always thinks about working for the good of the country and Thai people. Paetongtarn, however, was removed from her position last month after a court found her guilty of an ethics violation for a politically compromising phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen.
Thaksin faced a barrage of lawsuits and criminal charges after leaving office, which he claimed were politically motivated. He falsely claimed having a health condition in order to be sent to the hospital, but the police hospital's request for an extension of Thaksin's stay claimed that he needed urgent neck surgery, which he did not end up having before his release.
Last month, a criminal court acquitted Thaksin of royal defamation, an offense also known as lese-majeste, which could have resulted in a 15-year prison sentence. With this latest ruling, Thaksin will finally serve the prison term for his other convictions.
