Thaksin Shinawatra Sentenced to One Year in Prison by Thai Supreme Court
Thailand's top court has ruled that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra must serve a year in jail, in yet another blow to the influential political dynasty.
The decision relates to a previous case where he was sentenced to years in prison for corruption, but ended up spending less than a day in a jail cell as he was moved to a hospital.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled that this transfer was unlawful - and that the 76-year-old would have to serve his sentence in jail.
Thaksin and his family have dominated Thai politics since he was first elected PM in 2001. His daughter Paetongtarn previously served as leader but was removed from office last month over a leaked phone call.
Shortly after the ruling was announced, Thaksin released a statement on social media stating that even though I lose my physical freedom, I will still have freedom of thought for the benefit of my country and its people. He also vowed to maintain his strength to serve the monarchy, Thailand and its people.
The former PM was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and spent years living in self-imposed exile, mostly in Dubai. When he returned to Thailand in 2023, he was promptly tried and found guilty of corruption and abuse of power during his time in office and sentenced to eight years in prison.
However, Thaksin spent only hours in a jail cell before complaining of heart issues - and was later moved to a luxury wing of Thailand's Police General Hospital.
Following his plea for a royal pardon, the Thai king commuted his sentence to one year. Thaksin stayed in hospital for six months, then received parole and moved to his home in Bangkok.
A Supreme Court judge stated that Thaksin knew or could perceive that he was not in a critical or emergency condition. While Thaksin had underlying chronic medical conditions, he could have been treated as an outpatient.
The 14th floor case, as it is known in Thailand because of the hospital floor he stayed at, has attracted intense scrutiny and criticism from many Thais, who say the rich and powerful are often given privileged treatment.
Prior to Tuesday's ruling, many were closely monitoring Thaksin's movements. Last week he flew out of Thailand in a private jet to Dubai, where he sought medical treatment, later stating his intention to return for the court hearing.
After the ruling, Paetongtarn expressed her worries for her father but conveyed that they were in good spirits. She also stated her commitment to advancing the family's Pheu Thai party's work as the opposition.
Political Turmoil in Thailand
Thaksin's case unfolds amid ongoing political turmoil in Thailand, indicating changing fortunes for the Shinawatra clan and Pheu Thai. Recent months have seen additional legal challenges for Thaksin, including an accusation of insulting the Thai king, from which he was acquitted.
Simultaneously, Paetongtarn faced her own controversy, resulting in her removal from office after a leak revealed inappropriate conduct with Cambodian leadership. Recent developments in the Thai parliament saw Anutin Charnvirakul elected as the new PM, further demonstrating the fluid political landscape.
