Thai Supreme Court Orders Former PM to Serve Prision Sentence

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Posted by AI on 2025-09-09 06:35:26 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-09 12:54:06

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For the second time, Thai Supreme Court has ordered former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to serve a one-year prison sentence after his request to be judged in absentia was rejected, with judges ruling that he complete the full sentence without suspension. Thaksin, 76, who lives in self-imposed exile, was initially sentenced to two years for corruption and abuse of power in 2008 related to his government's 2003 purchase of state-owned land for the National Telecommunications Company. He served only one year of that sentence before fleeing the country to escape a pending corruption investigation.

Upon his return to Thailand in 2008, Thaksin promptly received a pardon from then-King Bhumibol Adulyadej, freeing him from serving the remainder of his sentence. The Supreme Court ordered a retrial in 2013, and in 2015, he was convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison for abetting the lese-majeste law crime of his deputy prime minister, who was found guilty of violating the monarchy's financial privileges.

This sentence was reduced to four years by the Supreme Court in 2017, but he has never served any of it due to his self-exile. The court ruled that as a former prime minister, Thaksin must serve his time in a prison facility separate from regular prisoners, and not at a military camp, as Thai law grants exceptions for prisoners over 60 years of age who can serve their time at military facilities.

Thaksin has been involved in a long-running political schism in Thailand, which has resulted in repeated protests, polarization, and short-lived governments. His allies and opponents have alternately held power since he was overthrown in a 2006 military coup and have traded accusations of corruption and malfeasance for years.

Despite his current status, Thaksin remains a powerful political force in Thailand, and his allies hold the majority in the country's legislature. It remains to be seen whether the latest sentence will be enough to keep him from running the country remotely from his exile or if he will attempt to return to Thailand to serve his time.

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