18-9-2023 (BANGKOK) Thaksin Shinawatra, former prime minister of Thailand, may be granted parole by late February, according to a senior corrections official. Thaksin, who recently returned to Thailand after 15 years of self-exile, had his original eight-year prison sentence reduced to one year upon his return. During his time abroad, he was found guilty in absentia on charges including abuse of power, conflict of interest, and malfeasance.
Thaksin’s homecoming coincided with the ascension of his ally, Srettha Thavisin, as Thailand’s new prime minister. This followed a period of uncertainty after the ruling pro-military party faced defeat in the May elections. Thaksin-aligned parties had consistently won elections since 2001, with this year’s poll resulting in a second-place finish for the Pheu Thai party, backed by Thaksin’s family.
As a telecommunications billionaire, Thaksin’s populist policies and outspoken nature resonated with many poorer Thais but drew opposition from the country’s traditional elites and the royalist military. In 2014, his sister’s government was also ousted by the military. Speculation arose regarding a potential deal between Thaksin and his old adversaries, as pro-military parties supported the Pheu Thai candidate for the prime ministerial position. Both Thaksin and Srettha deny such an agreement.
Upon his return to Thailand, Thaksin was taken to a police hospital due to chest pains and high blood pressure. He remains hospitalized and is currently receiving treatment. King Maha Vajiralongkorn subsequently commuted his sentence from eight years to one year, but there is a possibility of an earlier release. According to Sitthi Sutivong, Deputy Director General of the Corrections Department, Thaksin will be eligible for parole after serving six months of his sentence, given his age and health condition. The decision for parole is made on a case-by-case basis, without the need for a petition process.
The length of Thaksin’s hospital treatment is determined by medical professionals and does not have a specific time limit, Sitthi added.
