Bangkok: Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who had been serving a one-year prison sentence, was released on parole on Sunday, marking a significant development six months after his return to the country from self-exile.
Thaksin’s departure from a police hospital in Bangkok was observed by reporters at 6:06 a.m. local time on Sunday, where he had received medical treatment and served six months of his sentence.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin affirmed that Thaksin’s parole release aligns with the country’s legal framework, as reported by news agencies.
The Justice Ministry of Thailand disclosed that Thaksin, now 74 years old, is one of the 930 inmates approved for parole this month. His eligibility for parole stems from his age exceeding 70 years and his ongoing battle with a serious illness.
Thaksin’s return to Thailand in August of the previous year marked the end of his exile, which had spanned over 15 years. However, his homecoming was swiftly followed by detention and an eight-year prison sentence on multiple charges. Shortly after his return, concerns over his health led to his transfer from a Bangkok prison to a hospital.
In September, Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn granted Thaksin’s request for a royal pardon, reducing his eight-year sentence to one year.
Thaksin, who held office as Thailand’s Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006, had been residing in self-exile abroad since 2008. His release on parole adds a new chapter to his tumultuous political journey.