On Sunday, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released from custody halfway through his year-long sentence. This follows a Tuesday announcement from incumbent Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, revealing that the former PM would be granted parole.
Local reports sighted the 74-year-old Thaksin leaving the Police General Hospital in Bangkok’s Pathum Wan District early Sunday morning. He had been detained there since last year, reportedly due to serious and life-threatening health conditions.
Thaksin’s journey to this point began when he returned from a self-imposed exile of 15 years in August 2023. Upon his arrival in Thailand, he was taken into custody. His original eight-year sentence was later commuted to one year by the King of Thailand through a royal pardon granted on August 31.
Thaksin, along with 930 other inmates, has been granted parole per a Correction Department regulation allowing for such consideration after a certain period and an official review. He was deemed eligible for release due to his age and poor health, according to Thai authorities.
The former PM’s conviction, in absentia, in 2008 stemmed from his abuse of power to facilitate his then-wife’s 2003 purchase of land from the Bank of Thailand’s Financial Institutions Development Fund at a discounted price.
Despite celebrations from both prominent government figures and the public, Thaksin’s release has not been without criticism. The opposition, questioning the handling of the case, also expressed concerns about perceived inequities in the justice system, stating that it seemed the rich and powerful receive preferential treatment – a sentiment echoed by the Move Forward Party’s public statement.
The Student and People’s Network for Thailand Reform gathered outside the hospital Thaksin was held in on Saturday night to protest his parole. They have implored the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate the legitimacy Thaksin’s reported health conditions and have previously called for him to be returned to prison. The NACC has accepted the complaint, confirming that they are working with the Corrections Department and the hospital to verify Thaksin’s condition.
Meanwhile, Thaksin has returned to his residence in the Bang Phlat district post-release. It remains unclear whether his release has any conditions attached, such as surveillance or travel restrictions.