Thailand’s Supreme Court delivered a significant verdict on Tuesday, ruling that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra must spend one year behind bars after deeming his previous hospital detention unlawful. This ruling has dealt yet another severe blow to the Shinawatra family’s influential legacy, which has shaped Thai politics for over two decades.
The court determined that Thaksin, who has consistently been a polarising figure in Thailand, did not meet the medical criteria that would justify his extended stay in a VIP hospital wing instead of a regular prison cell. The judges articulated that the responsibility for Thaksin’s hospitalisation did not rest solely with his medical team, asserting that the billionaire businessman intentionally prolonged his time away from incarceration, a claim that has been met with widespread scepticism from the public.
As Thaksin was escorted from the courthouse, adjusting his jacket before entering a corrections department van, he expressed his acceptance of the verdict through a Facebook statement. “Today, I may no longer have freedom, but I have the freedom of thought to create benefit for the country and people,” he conveyed, revealing a steely resolve despite his sentences.
The 76-year-old political heavyweight is currently grappling with a tumultuous political landscape, following the ousting of his daughter and protégé Paetongtarn Shinawatra from the role of Prime Minister just weeks ago. This event marked the sixth time a leader from or allied with the Shinawatra family has been removed by judicial or military intervention. Following her sacking on August 29, chaos ensued, ultimately leading to the collapse of her government on Friday, as Anutin Charnvirakul from the rival camp was subsequently elected as premier, signalling a pronounced power shift away from Thaksin’s once-unstoppable Pheu Thai party.
Thaksin’s recent return to Thailand from a 15-year self-imposed exile lasted only a few hours in prison before he was moved to a hospital under the pretext of heart issues and chest pain. This swift transition prompted accusations of manipulation and sparked public outrage. Thaksin’s earlier eight-year sentence for conflicts of interest and abuse of power had been drastically reduced to one year at the hands of the monarch, allowing him to be released after serving only six months – all of which were spent in the opulent confines of a medical facility.
In the courtroom, Kokaew Pikulthong, a political ally of Thaksin and a lawmaker for the Pheu Thai party, noted that the former leader took the ruling in stride. “He still has the fighting spirit,” Pikulthong reported, adding, “He told me he came back from overseas and was ready to face any situation, whether it’s good or bad.” This resolve may be necessary as the political tides continue to shift dramatically in Thailand’s ever-evolving landscape.