Thailand’s Supreme Court Orders Former PM, Thaksin Shinawatra to Serve One-Year Jail Term

Thailand’s Supreme Court has ruled that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra must serve one year in prison after determining that part of his earlier sentence was not properly completed.

The court found that Thaksin’s stay in a luxury ward at the Police General Hospital could not be counted as prison time.

Thaksin, who built one of Thailand’s most influential political dynasties before being toppled in a 2006 coup, spent 15 years in self-imposed exile before returning in 2023. His comeback coincided with his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, becoming prime minister. Soon after, he was convicted on corruption and abuse-of-power charges and given an eight-year prison sentence, later reduced to one year after he received royal clemency.

Although freed on parole in early 2024 after months in hospital care, his release drew criticism over alleged preferential treatment.

His daughter Paetongtarn, recently removed from office following a constitutional court case, accompanied the 76-year-old to court on Tuesday, voicing concern over his health while praising his role in shaping the country’s history.

Thaksin was originally accused of abuse of power during his premiership from 2001 to 2006. After his removal by the military, he spent years abroad before returning to face trial. He spent less than 24 hours in prison before being transferred to hospital, where he cited heart problems.