Thai Court Rules Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra Must Serve Prison Time

BANGKOK — Thailand's Supreme Court has ruled that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra must serve one year of his prison sentence, a decision that marks a significant turn in the kingdom’s political landscape.

The court's ruling, issued on Tuesday, addressed whether Thaksin's time spent in a private room at a police hospital from late 2023 to early 2024 could be considered as time served.

Thaksin, 76, had been sentenced to eight years in prison in 2023 for fraud and abuse of power following his unexpected return to Thailand after 15 years in self-imposed exile. However, his sentence was commuted to one year by the king, and he was subsequently granted early release. Despite the convictions, the former premier never spent a night in a regular prison, citing health concerns for his hospital stay.

According to Al Jazeera's Tony Cheng, reporting from Bangkok, this is "the worst option" for Thaksin among the possibilities that were being considered, which included a full release or some form of house arrest.

For many Thais, the verdict comes as no surprise. Cheng noted that there was widespread disappointment over Thaksin's failure to serve any time in jail, and the new ruling will likely be seen as a "justifiable sentence for the crimes that many people feel that he was guilty of during his time in power."