Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Released on Parole
Thailand’s convicted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been released on parole after serving six months of his one-year prison sentence. Thaksin, who returned to the country from self-exile last year, left a police hospital in Bangkok early Sunday morning, where he had been receiving medical treatment.
Xinhua reporters observed his car leaving the hospital at 6:06 a.m. local time, and according to Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, the release on parole was in line with the law. This decision was confirmed by the country’s Justice Ministry, which stated that the 74-year-old former Prime Minister was among the 930 inmates approved for parole this month due to his age and serious illness.
Thaksin’s return to Thailand in August last year ended his exile of more than 15 years. However, he was soon detained and faced an eight-year prison sentence on several charges. Shortly after his return, Thaksin was transferred from a Bangkok prison to a hospital due to health concerns. Last September, Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn reduced his eight-year prison sentence to one year following a request for a royal pardon.
Thaksin, who served as the country’s Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006, had been in self-exile abroad since 2008. His release on parole marks a significant development in Thailand’s political landscape and has sparked widespread discussion and speculation about his potential influence on the country’s future.
