22-8-2023 (BANGKOK) On August 22, 2023, it was reported that after Ms. Patongtharn Chinawat, the candidate for the leadership of the Pheu Thai Party, posted on her Instagram story, Mr. Thaksin Chinawat, the former Prime Minister, and her father, would return to Thailand on a private jet, landing at the M-JETS private jet terminal at Don Mueang Airport, where their family awaited.
At 07:00 AM, the private jet carrying Mr. Thaksin departed from Singapore and was headed back to Thailand, preparing to land at the M-JETS private jet terminal at Don Mueang Airport. Ms. Yinglak Masong, a member of the Pheu Thai Party, had accompanied Mr. Thaksin at the airport in Singapore.
At 09:00 AM, Mr. Thaksin’s private jet, arriving from Singapore, touched down at the M-JETS private jet terminal at Don Mueang Airport, amidst a throng of politicians and citizens who had gathered to welcome him.
At 09:26 AM, Mr. Thaksin emerged to pay his respects to the monarchy amid cheers of victory from the red-shirted supporters and those who came to welcome him. Accompanied by Ms. Pinthongtha, his daughter, and Ms. Patongtharn, his son, Mr. Thaksin waved and greeted the welcoming crowd with a joyful smile, while Ms. Patongtharn wiped away tears.
In addition, Mr. Thaksin took a moment to shake hands with the Pheu Thai Party leaders before proceeding into the building to complete the necessary documentation for his appearance in the Criminal Court’s political case division, as he faced legal charges related to his political position at the Grand Palace.
At 10:25 AM, a convoy of authorities arrived to accompany Thaksin to the Criminal Court’s political case division at the Grand Palace, amid a gathering of both citizens and red-shirted supporters who had come to witness the proceedings.
Regarding the legal cases Thaksin Shinawatra currently faces, there are a total of three:
- The Asset Concealment Case: This was the first case, dated April 23, 2019, with the reference number AOM 4/2551. The court sentenced him to 3 years in prison.
- The Lottery Case: The second case, dated June 6, 2019, with the reference number AOM 10/2552. The court sentenced him to 2 years in prison without an additional sentence from the Asset Concealment Case.
- The Malfeasance in Office Case: The third case, dated July 30, 2021, with the reference number AOM 5/2551. The court sentenced him to 5 years in prison, counting after the sentences from both the Asset Concealment and Lottery cases.
In total, Thaksin will be sentenced to 8 years (3 years for the first case, 2 years for the second case, with the sentences counted concurrently, plus 5 years for the third case).
The sentences for the first two cases run concurrently, while the third case’s sentence will be counted after he has served the sentences for the Asset Concealment and Lottery cases, resulting in a combined sentence of 8 years.
