Everything in Thailand is all for "cho" (show). The staged overturning of the election results...the insertion of the predetermined PM...the return of this criminal...and this 8 year sentence. All for show. He'll likely be out in 8 days.
Remember 2008, he was allowed to escape and go to the Beijing Olympics on his word he would return to face charges. Everyone with a brain cell knew he wasn't coming back. He should be given 15 years lockup just for that, but again it's all planned and just a big show to fool the gullible masses, of which there is no shortage here.