Bangkok, Thailand – Thailand’s Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra must return to prison to complete his sentence, declaring that his lengthy hospital stay could not be counted as time served.
The Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions concluded that Thaksin’s six-month detention at the Police General Hospital in Bangkok was not legally valid as part of his punishment and therefore should not be deducted from his one-year prison term. The court’s statement made it clear: “The time spent at a police hospital cannot be deducted as days of imprisonment.”
RELATED NEWS : Thai court dismisses prime minister over compromising phone call with Cambodian leader
Thaksin, now 76, is one of the most influential and polarizing figures in Thailand’s modern history. He served as the country’s prime minister from 2001 until he was ousted in a military coup in 2006. Following his removal from power, he lived abroad in self-imposed exile for more than 15 years, avoiding multiple convictions for corruption, abuse of power, and conflict of interest.
In August 2023, Thaksin made a dramatic return to Bangkok, where he was immediately taken into custody. He had been sentenced to eight years in prison on three corruption-related convictions, but King Maha Vajiralongkorn later granted him a royal pardon, reducing the sentence to one year. Despite this, Thaksin spent less than a single day in prison before being transferred to the Police General Hospital on claims of urgent health concerns. He remained there for six months, sparking public debate and accusations that he had been given special treatment compared to ordinary inmates.
The Supreme Court’s ruling now compels Thaksin to serve out the remainder of his sentence in prison. The decision is seen as a major test of Thailand’s justice system, which has long been criticized for treating political elites differently from regular citizens.
Thaksin’s influence continues to loom large over Thai politics. His populist policies once earned him immense support among rural communities and low-income citizens, but his critics accuse him of rampant corruption and of undermining democratic institutions. His return to Thailand last year and the controversies surrounding his imprisonment have once again placed him at the center of the country’s ongoing political turbulence.
The former prime minister, who had once dominated Thai politics, now faces the prospect of returning behind bars at a time when the nation is still grappling with political divisions, economic pressures, and questions over the balance of power between elected leaders and the country’s powerful establishment.
SOURCE : AGENCIES | Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |
