BANGKOK — Thailand’s high courtroom ordered the influential former prime minister and billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra to jail for one 12 months on Tuesday in a dramatic flip of occasions for the embattled political titan.
Thaksin, 76, a towering and divisive determine, served as prime minister from 2001 till he was ousted in a army coup in 2006. He made a dramatic return to Thailand in 2023 after 15 years in self-imposed exile, and was sentenced to eight years in jail for battle of curiosity, abuse of energy and corruption throughout his time in energy.
Regardless of the sentence, Thaksin – who as soon as owned Manchester Metropolis Soccer Membership – by no means spent an evening in a jail cell. He served his time in a luxurious suite at Bangkok’s Police Basic Hospital after complaining of tightness in his chest, hypertension and low oxygen ranges.
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn then diminished Thaksin’s jail sentence to at least one 12 months, earlier than he was launched on parole six months later in February 2024.
On Tuesday the Supreme Court docket dominated that Thaksin’s extended hospital keep final 12 months was illegal and ordered him to serve his sentence at Bangkok Remand Jail, in line with the courtroom. Video from the Reuters information company confirmed a convoy of autos it stated was carrying Thaksin arriving on the jail in a while Tuesday.
The character of Thaksin’s detention raised questions that he acquired particular remedy.
And plenty of analysts imagine Thaksin struck a take care of the nation’s highly effective conservative and royalist institution for his return in alternate for a diminished jail time period, lenient remedy, or a attainable pardon. Thaksin returned on the identical day his household’s political celebration took up the reins of presidency as soon as once more.
Thaksin has denied making such an association.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court docket decided that Thaksin’s time in hospital didn’t depend as time served.
The courtroom dominated that Thaksin knew or was conscious that his medical circumstances might have been managed as an outpatient, “with out the necessity for extended inpatient care.”
“The defendant benefited from remaining within the hospital with out having to return to custody at Bangkok Remand Jail till his eventual launch,” the courtroom assertion stated.
In June, Thailand’s medical council suspended two medical doctors who enabled Thaksin to spend his sentence in hospital, ruling they issued paperwork that contained false medical data, Reuters reported. A jail physician was additionally cautioned for failing to satisfy medical requirements in referring Thaksin for hospital remedy.
In a social media submit after the decision, Thaksin stated he accepted the courtroom’s determination.
“At the moment I select to look ahead, letting all previous issues come to a decision,” he stated. “Although I could lack bodily freedom, I nonetheless have the liberty of thought for the advantage of the nation and folks.”
Chatting with reporters exterior courtroom, Thaksin’s daughter and former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, stated “My father and our household stay holding excessive spirits.”
She added that the Shinawatras’ Pheu Thai political celebration “will stick with it doing (our) political obligation because the opposition celebration.” – CNN
