BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s Supreme Court has ordered former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to serve a one-year prison term, affirming previous convictions related to corruption and abuse of power. The court's decision follows scrutiny about the return process of Thaksin, who was previously in self-imposed exile for over a decade.
Upon his return to Thailand, Thaksin was swiftly transferred from prison to the Police General Hospital in Bangkok, purportedly due to health concerns, generating public speculation about whether he received special treatment.
His sentence, initially set at eight years, was dramatically reduced to one year by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who also approved his release on parole just six months into his hospitalization. This situation has led to significant public discourse on the fairness of the legal system in Thailand, particularly regarding influential figures and their access to privileges that may be denied to the average citizen.
Upon his return to Thailand, Thaksin was swiftly transferred from prison to the Police General Hospital in Bangkok, purportedly due to health concerns, generating public speculation about whether he received special treatment.
His sentence, initially set at eight years, was dramatically reduced to one year by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who also approved his release on parole just six months into his hospitalization. This situation has led to significant public discourse on the fairness of the legal system in Thailand, particularly regarding influential figures and their access to privileges that may be denied to the average citizen.
