Despite corruption allegations and a prison sentence, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra still has many supporters in Thailand. Now the 74-year-old billionaire has been released on parole.
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been released from prison and returned to his home in Bangkok. Thaksin had been in the police hospital in Bangkok for the past six months.
The 74-year-old billionaire left the facility with his daughter Paetongtarn and was welcomed at his residence by numerous journalists.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had previously announced Thaksin’s release. Srettha is a member of the Pheu Thai party, which Thaksin founded. According to government information, the media entrepreneur is one of a group of 930 prisoners who were released early due to their old age or critical condition. In Thailand, convicts older than 70 can apply for parole or a royal pardon.
Media entrepreneur still has great influence
Last year, Thaksin returned to Thailand after 15 years in self-imposed exile and was immediately imprisoned there for corruption. A little later he was transferred to the police hospital.
The eight-year prison sentence imposed on Thaksin was reduced to one year by Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn in September 2023. As head of government, Thaksin had done good things for the country and the people and was loyal to the monarchy, the royal official gazette said at the time. Thaksin ruled the country from 2001 until a military coup in 2006. As an opponent of the pro-military and royalist establishment in Thailand, the media entrepreneur still exerts great influence on politics in the kingdom.
His return to Thailand coincided with the return of his Pheu Thai party to government. Pheu Thai had allied itself with several army-affiliated parties. This had sparked speculation that an agreement had been reached to shorten Thaksin’s prison term.