Thai Supreme Court orders former PM Thaksin back to jail after ruling hospital stay unlawful
Thailand’s Supreme Court Orders Exiled PM Thaksin Shinawatra Back to Prison
In a major twist in Thai politics, Thailand’s Supreme Court has ruled that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra must return to prison to finish his one-year sentence. The court said his time in hospital detention doesn’t count as jail time, so he has to start over.
The decision came from the court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions. They made it clear: "Time spent at a police hospital can’t be deducted from the prison sentence." As a result, the 76-year-old Thaksin needs to serve the full year under a royal decree, according to reports from Xinhua News Agency.
Thaksin, who led Thailand as prime minister from 2001 to 2006, came back to the country in August 2023 after more than 15 years in self-imposed exile. Right away, authorities arrested him to serve an eight-year sentence for corruption and abuse of power charges. A royal pardon later cut it down to one year. But after just 24 hours in a Bangkok prison, doctors moved him to the Police General Hospital because of serious health issues. He’s been there for six months now, but the court says that doesn’t count.
This ruling shakes up Thaksin’s situation amid ongoing legal battles in Thailand. Just last month, in August, a different Thai criminal court cleared him of royal defamation charges. Those charges stemmed from comments he made in a 2015 interview with a South Korean media outlet. Prosecutors had accused him of violating the kingdom’s strict lese majeste law—Section 112 of the Criminal Code—which punishes insults to the monarchy with three to 15 years in prison. They also hit him with computer crime charges for the online spread of his remarks.
But the court found the evidence too weak. Thaksin’s lawyer, Winyat Chatmontree, explained that the prosecution couldn’t prove any wrongdoing. "The case was dismissed," Thaksin told reporters as he left the courthouse, looking relieved. He even thanked his legal team, saying he can now focus fully on helping the nation.
The Office of the Attorney General had filed the indictment last year, but it all fell apart due to lack of solid proof. Thaksin’s acquittal on these charges is a big win for him, especially given Thailand’s tough laws on criticizing the royal family.
As Thaksin Shinawatra faces this new prison order, many in Thailand are watching closely. His return from exile and these court decisions keep the spotlight on corruption cases, royal defamation laws, and political figures in Southeast Asia. Will he appeal? Stay tuned for updates on this developing story in Thai politics.
