17-2-2024 (BANGKOK) Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire political figure, is set to be released from hospital detention on Sunday, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Thaksin, 74, had been in detention since August, following his return to Thailand after 15 years in self-imposed exile abroad to evade imprisonment on charges of conflict of interest.
The former prime minister, who held office from 2001 to 2006, saw his original eight-year jail term commuted to one year by the King upon his return. Having served six months in hospital detention due to an undisclosed health condition, Thaksin was granted parole earlier this week. The exact timing of his release had been uncertain until now, with Sunday marking the first day of his parole eligibility.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin stated on Saturday that Thaksin’s release would take place on the 18th, emphasizing that all procedures would adhere to the law. Despite being granted parole, Thaksin may still face legal challenges, as public prosecutors are contemplating charging him for allegedly insulting the monarchy during a 2015 media interview.
Thaksin’s return to Thailand last year coincided with the appointment of his ally and political newcomer, Prime Minister Srettha, on the same day. This has led to speculation about a potential behind-the-scenes agreement between Thaksin and his influential adversaries in Thailand’s royalist-military establishment. However, both Thaksin’s allies and the government, led by the Shinawatra-backed Pheu Thai Party, have dismissed such claims.
