29-9-2025 (BANGKOK) Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has formally requested a royal pardon following a one-year prison sentence handed down by the Supreme Court on September 9, 2025, for a political corruption case, first reported by Thai Rath.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed the request, which has been forwarded to the Cabinet Secretariat for further processing. On September 10, just one day after the court’s ruling, Thaksin submitted his pardon application to the Ministry of Justice, overseen by Justice Minister Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong.
By September 23, the ministry approved the petition’s review and sent it to the Cabinet Secretariat, adhering to legal protocols. The request comes amid a transitional period for Thailand’s government, as a new cabinet, appointed on September 19 and sworn in on September 24, prepares to present its policy agenda to parliament. Thaksin, a polarizing figure in Thai politics, returned to Thailand in August 2023 after 15 years in self-exile, facing multiple charges.
His earlier eight-year sentence was reduced to one year through a previous royal pardon, and he was granted parole in February 2024 due to his age and health issues.
