His prison sentence was reduced from eight to one year last summer, and Thai former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra does not even have to serve that sentence. According to the Thai Minister of Justice, 74-year-old Thaksin, also the former owner of Manchester City football club, is on a list of 930 convicts who are being released early because they are too sick or old for prison. International news agencies reported this on Tuesday.
Thaksin returned to Thailand last September after a self-imposed exile of fifteen years, hoping to end his eventful life in his home country. He was Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006. In the last year the army deposed him in a coup. In 2010 he was convicted of corruption, but he fled the sentence in Dubai because he believed it was a political settlement.
Immediately after his eventful return to Thailand, Thaksin was imprisoned for an initial eight years, but the Thai king honored his request for clemency shortly afterwards and shortened the former prime minister’s prison sentence to one year. This happened on medical grounds: Thaksin reportedly suffered from high blood pressure and chest pain shortly after his capture. According to his wealthy family, he also had to go under the knife twice in the months that followed.
Circumstances unknown
According to Thai media, the popular former prime minister may be released this coming weekend. Under what circumstances is not yet known. Thaksin may have to wear an ankle bracelet or face travel restrictions.
Thaksin used the advantage he received as a scion of a wealthy Thai family by building a successful telecommunications company. He used his billions to found the populist Pheu Thai party around the turn of the century. His daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra (37), is now in charge of it. As Thailand’s second party, Pheu Thai has been part of the current Thai government since last summer — together with two pro-junta parties.
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