Bangkok
–
Thailand’s top court ordered the influential former prime minister and billionaire Thaksin Sinawatra to prison for a dramatic event in the political Titans that had been fighting for a year on Tuesday.
A towering, divisive figure, Thaksin (76), served as prime minister from 2001 to 2006 when he was forced out of a military coup. He made a dramatic return to Thailand in 2023, 15 years after his voluntary expulsion, and was sentenced to eight years in prison for conflicts of power, abuse of power and abuse of power.
Despite the sentence, Thaksin, who once owned the Manchester City Football Club, never spent the night in a prison cell. He spent time in the luxury suite of Bangkok Police General Hospital after complaining of chest tension, high blood pressure and hypoxia levels.
Thailand’s King Mahavajiralongkorn reduced Thaksin’s prison sentence to one year before being released on parole six months in February 2024.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled that Thaksin’s long stay in hospital last year was illegal and ordered him to serve his sentence in a remanded prison in Bangkok, according to the court. A video from Reuters showed a fleet of vehicles that Thaksin said had arrived at the prison later on Tuesday.
The nature of Thaksin’s detention raised the question that he received special treatment.
And many analysts believe Thaksin has signed a contract with the country’s powerful conservatives and royal facilities for his return in exchange for a reduced sentence, generous treatment, or a possible pardon. Thaksin returned the same day that his family’s political parties once again reclaimed the government’s reins.
Thaksin denied making such an arrangement.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court held that time at Thaksin’s hospital was not counted as a time-earning move.
The court ruled that Thaksin knew or knew that his condition could be managed as an outpatient.
“The defendant benefited from staying in the hospital without being detained in a Bangkok remand prison until his final release,” the court statement said.
In June, Thailand’s Medical Council determined that Thaksin had suspended two doctors who allowed him to be sentenced to prison at hospitals and issued documents containing false medical information, Reuters reported. Also warned that prison doctors did not meet medical standards when referring Thaksin to treat hospitals.
In a social media post after the verdict, Thaksin said he had accepted the court’s decision.
“Today, I’ve been looking forward to it and chose to help solve all my past problems,” he said. “I may lack physical freedom, but I still have freedom of thinking for the benefit of the nation and people.”
Thaksin’s daughter and former prime minister, Prime Minister Petongan Sinawatra, spoke to reporters outside the court, saying, “My father and our family are in great spirits.”
She added that the Fautai party in Sinawatras “continues the political obligations (our) as an opposition.”
A crowd of Thaksin’s supporters also gathered outside the courthouse.
“I’m very sad today,” the 64-year-old Oy told CNN, wiping tears. Oy, who gave her only her nickname, said that without Thaksin’s universal health care initiative, her husband would not have had a life-saving heart surgery.
Thaksin attended the court to hear the verdict. On Thursday he flew to Dubai – there he spent a lot of time in exile – urged many of the kingdom to speculate that he had fled the country with his private jet for a “health check.”
The verdict was the final of three judgements against the powerful Sinawatras who have dominated Thailand’s turbulent and often violent political scene for over 20 years.
The politician recently survived Majeste’s lawsuit against him.
His daughter didn’t get off that light. Former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resigned two weeks ago by the Constitutional Court and resigned after a leaked call with a former Cambodian leader who violated ethical rules.
For the past 25 years, Thaksin has built one of the country’s most famous and successful political dynasties, with alliance candidates winning almost every election since 2001.
However, the dynasty has long been hated by Thai facilities that frequently overthrew and tied the Sinawatra-run government with the help of both the military and courts.
Meanwhile, his exile Thaksin remained a political force behind the scenes.
His sister Ingluk ran the government until the court’s ruling ended the 2014 military coup following her tenure, but Thaksin’s brother-in-law also temporarily took charge of Thailand during his absence.
Many observers feel that family power in Thailand is diminishing, and that its long dominant political machinery could ultimately disappear from steam.
Thailand is at an important time. Over the past 20 years, the kingdom has been ruled primarily by Sinawatras or its agents, or by the army.
That changed last week when the Fautai Party of Sinawatra was expelled from the government.
Thai politics veteran Anuchin Chanbirakul has replaced Petong Ghan and won a vote in Parliament to become Thailand’s next prime minister.
The former home minister who led the legalization of cannabis in Thailand, and his government, took office on Sunday after gaining royal support from King Vajralongkorn.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
