Thai former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra released from prison

BANGKOK — Thailand’s influential former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released from prison on Monday after serving around eight months, following a court ruling that found he had improperly remained in a hospital to avoid jail time.

The 76-year-old billionaire, who reshaped and dominated Thai politics for more than two decades, has seen his influence decline in recent years after his imprisonment and the weakest electoral performance on record by his Pheu Thai Party earlier this year.

Thaksin, wearing a simple white shirt with closely cropped hair, exited Bangkok’s Klong Prem Central Prison at around 7:40 a.m. local time (0040 GMT). He was immediately met by family members, including his daughter and political ally Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was removed from the prime minister’s office by a court order last August, just weeks before his incarceration.

Dozens of supporters gathered outside the prison since early Monday, chanting “we love Thaksin” as he emerged. He was released after serving roughly two-thirds of his sentence and was granted parole.

Return from exile and legal proceedings

After 15 years in self-imposed exile, Thaksin returned to Thailand in 2023 to serve an eight-year prison sentence related to conflicts of interest and abuse of power during his tenure as prime minister from 2001 to 2006. His sentence was later reduced to one year by royal pardon.

Upon his return, he was initially taken into custody but was transferred to a hospital within hours after complaining of heart-related issues and chest pains. He subsequently spent six months in a hospital’s VIP ward before being granted parole.

In September last year, Thailand’s Supreme Court ruled that Thaksin must serve his sentence in prison, concluding that he and his medical team had extended his hospital stay through unnecessary procedures.

As part of his release conditions, Thaksin is required to wear an electronic ankle monitor for the remainder of his sentence, according to Thailand’s corrections department.

Supporters react

Rommanee Nakano, a 76-year-old supporter from northern Chiang Rai province, said she believed Thaksin had been treated unfairly.

“He is a very good person,” she said ahead of his release. “Whatever he did, he did it for the people. He just wanted the people to be well-fed and have enough to live on.”

Thaksin’s release marks another significant moment in Thailand’s ongoing political shifts, as his family and political network continue to play a central role in the country’s leadership landscape. -Reporting by Napat Wesshasartar, Thomas Suen and Chayut Setboonsarng; Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by Martin Petty/Reuters