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Thailand's ex-PM Thaksin to serve 8 years in jail - court statement Reuters Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is expected to be arrested upon his return as he ends almost two decades of self-imposed exile, waves at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Thailand August 22, 2023. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1304313-thailands-ex-pm-thaksin-to-serve-8-years-in-jail-court-statement/

BANGKOK, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who returned from self-exile on Tuesday, will serve a total of eight years in prison, according to a statement by the Supreme Court. The jail term covers three different cases for abuse of power and malfeasance, illegally ordering a state-run bank to issue a foreign loan, and illegally holding shares via nominees. by Reuters TOP: Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is expected to be arrested upon his return as he ends almost two decades of self-imposed exile, waves at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Thailand August 22, 2023. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha Full story: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailands-ex-pm-thaksin-serve-8-years-jail-court-statement-2023-08-22/ -- REUTERS 2023-08-22 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Toddler yanks steering wheel causing pickup to damage noodle shop By Neill Fronde After her toddler daughter grabbed the wheel, a woman's pickup truck damaged three cars and a noodle shop. (via KhaoSod). Photo courtesy of KhaoSod. A road collision in Nakhon Ratchasima caused significant damage when a pickup truck, driven by a woman accompanied by her three year old daughter, crashed into a noodle shop. The incident, which was shared on TikTok by user @jindarat254327, also resulted in damage to three parked vehicles, including two cars owned by Kan, who was dining in the noodle shop at the time. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1304310-toddler-yanks-steering-wheel-causing-pickup-to-damage-noodle-shop/

UPDATE: Thai Police Bust Biggest Sex-for-Hire Website Allegedly Run by American-Thai Couple By Tanakorn Panyadee Thai Police on Friday, August 18th, announced a successful apprehension of an American-Thai couple, believed to have been operating what the authorities said was the largest online escort service and sex agency website in Thailand, tailor-made for a foreign clientele. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1303996-biggest-sex-for-sale-website-shut-down-by-police-unit-in-early-morning-raid-targeting-foreigners/?do=findComment&comment=18293283

UPDATE: Thai Police Bust Biggest Sex-for-Hire Website Allegedly Run by American-Thai Couple By Tanakorn Panyadee Thai Police on Friday, August 18th, announced a successful apprehension of an American-Thai couple, believed to have been operating what the authorities said was the largest online escort service and sex agency website in Thailand, tailor-made for a foreign clientele. In a press briefing organized by Bangkok Police and the Immigration Bureau and Information Technology Crime Suppression Centre, Deputy Immigration Bureau Chief Pol Maj Gen. Panthana Nuchanart stated that the website was ranked first on Google and had nearly 430,000 visits per month. The website was found to have specifically catered to foreign customers, with 80 prostitutes working for the site, covering various locations in Thailand including Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Hua Hin. The service providers varied from women, transgender people, and groups of sex workers working in pairs, providing a wide range of prostitution-related offerings featured on the site. The website also displayed detailed descriptions of each sex worker, such as their photographs, as well as “customer reviews,” which appeared to be from English-speaking foreigners, giving the sex workers their compliments and recommendations. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/08/22/thai-police-bust-biggest-sex-for-hire-website-allegedly-run-by-american-thai-couple/ -- THE PATTAYA NEWS 2023-08-22 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Phuket police shut down 13 unlicensed cannabis shops By Peter Roche PHOTO: Wikimedia The authorities in Phuket have taken action against illegal cannabis shops found operating without a licence. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1304308-phuket-police-shut-down-13-unlicensed-cannabis-shops/

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Arrival at jail At 10:20 a.m., the police escorted Mr. Thaksin to a car destined for the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions. The convoy was composed of police motorcycles, a leading police car, two bulletproof vehicles, and a silver-bronze van, concluding with ambulances and police cars, all following the accused's detention process at the said court. Picture: Thai Rat Subsequently, around 11:00 a.m., after Mr. Thaksin had been in the courtroom for over 40 minutes, a contingent of police officers departed from the Supreme Court and proceeded towards the Bangkok Special Prison. Among the Red Shirt supporters eagerly awaiting, cheers and encouragement reverberated. It is anticipated that the former prime minister Thaksin's vehicle was a black Fortuner. Source: Thai Rath

Animal cruelty: Udon Thani cow and calf brutally beheaded by Neill Fronde A cow and her calf (pictured with heads) were beheaded in a shocking case of animal cruelty. (via iStock) In an alarming act of animal cruelty, a cow and her month-old calf were brutally killed and beheaded in a forest in Ban Dung district, Udon Thani. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1304300-animal-cruelty-udon-thani-cow-and-calf-brutally-beheaded/

Thaksin happily reunites with family Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted photos taken inside Don Muang airport VIP suite on Tuesday, showing her father, Thaksin, together with all of his children, grandchildren and in-laws. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1304290-thaksin-has-arrived-at-don-mueang-airport/?do=findComment&comment=18292910

Police Convoy Escorts "Thaksin" to Court, Red-Shirt Supporters Await Encouragement Picture: Thai Rath At around 10:20 am, a police convoy led "Thaksin" to the courthouse as a crowd of red-shirted supporters stood waiting for encouragement. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1304290-thaksin-has-arrived-at-don-mueang-airport/?do=findComment&comment=18292900

Thaksin happily reunites with family Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted photos taken inside Don Muang airport VIP suite on Tuesday, showing her father, Thaksin, together with all of his children, grandchildren and in-laws. On her Facebook page, Paetongtarn, his youngest daughter, wrote “Welcome back to Thailand daddy”. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thaksin-happily-reunites-with-family/ -- Thai PBS 2023-08-22 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Police Convoy Escorts "Thaksin" to Court, Red-Shirt Supporters Await Encouragement Picture: Thai Rath At around 10:20 am, a police convoy led "Thaksin" to the courthouse as a crowd of red-shirted supporters stood waiting for encouragement. On August 22, 2023, news sources reported that after former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Thailand via a private jet, landing at Don Mueang Airport at 9:00 am, law enforcement officers promptly escorted him to the courthouse, reported Thai Rath. Immediately after the completion of procedures, the police officers led Thaksin onto a vehicle en route to the courthouse. It is speculated that Thaksin would be seated in a white Ford Explorer amidst the convoy, with police vehicles at the rear. Picture: Thai Rath By 10:20 am, the police convoy arrived at the courthouse, parking underground before leading Thaksin to the courtroom for the hearing. The front of the courthouse saw a gathering of red-shirted supporters standing behind barricades, offering encouragement to Thaksin. As the convoy turned onto Ratchadamnoen Avenue, it headed for Gate 2 of the courthouse. The hearing was estimated to last 30-45 minutes. Thaksin's convoy was expected to exit through Gate 3, proceeding to the special central prison in Bangkok. -- ASEAN NOW 2023-08-22 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Heartbreak at nursery: Thai mother seeks justice for baby’s tragic death by Petch Petpailin Photo via Channel 3. A Thai mother is seeking justice following the tragic death of her three month old baby, who passed away after being left at a nursery in Bangkok for approximately nine hours. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1304293-heartbreak-at-nursery-thai-mother-seeks-justice-for-baby’s-tragic-death/

Thaksin’s arrival. Another attempt to elect a new Thai PM : Tim Newton Today - August 22 Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1304292-thaksin’s-arrival-another-attempt-to-elect-a-new-thai-pm-tim-newton-today-august-22/

Thailand news - Thaksin is scheduled to arrive at 9am in Bangkok. It will be a media circus as media rush to Don Mueang, along with 1000s of Thaksin supporters, then off to the Supreme Court, and then to the Thai parliament to cover today's election of a new PM... or not. In other news, the man spraying 'pot' smoke around Bangla Road explains his reasons, Facebook facing a ban in Thailand and an online Escort service being closed down in Thailand. Tim Newton Today is a daily take on Thai and regional news and issues of interest to expats and foreign tourists.

Thaksin Has Arrived At Don Mueang Airport by TNR Staff PHEU THAI Party boss/former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s private airplane Gulf Stream G650 landed at Don Mueang Airport at 9.05 a.m. this morning (Aug. 22) after taking taking off from Seletar Airport, Singapore, at 7 a.m., Naewna newspaper quoted Flightradar website as saying moments after the airplane touched down. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1304290-thaksin-has-arrived-at-don-mueang-airport/

Ex-PM Yingluck says she respects Thaksin’s decision to return to Thailand Exiled former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she respects the decision of her elder brother Thaksin to return to Thailand today (Tuesday) and wished him luck and a safe return. This message was posted in Yingluck’s Facebook page,together with a clip showing her hugging Thaksin as she sawhim off for his flight to Thailand after 17 years, except for a brief visit to Thailand in 2008, of living in self-imposed exile abroad. In her message, Yingluck said she understood that Thaksin felt lonely, sad and homesick throughout his exile, adding that she believes Thaksin must have thought for a long time before making the decision to return today. She said she hopes the exiled former prime minister’s return will be smooth and safe and reminded him to look after his health. She also asked Thaksin not to worry about her, saying that she is strong enough to take care of herself after spending six years abroad. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/ex-pm-yingluck-says-she-respects-thaksins-decision-to-return-to-thailand/ -- Thai PBS 2023-08-22 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

PHEU THAI Party boss/former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s private airplane Gulf Stream G650 landed at Don Mueang Airport at 9.05 a.m. this morning (Aug. 22) after taking taking off from Seletar Airport, Singapore, at 7 a.m., Naewna newspaper quoted Flightradar website as saying moments after the airplane touched down. Meanwhile the Straits Times newspaper cited several news sources as saying Thaksin will be arrested as soon as his private airplane lands at Don Mueang Airport. In his message posted on X, formerly Twitter, Thaksin said from 9 a.m. onwards he asked for permission to return to live in Thailand and breathe the same air as his Thai brothers and sisters. by TNR Staff Full story: https://thainewsroom.com/2023/08/22/thaksin-has-arrived-at-don-mueang-airport/ -- THAI NEWSROOM 2023-08-22 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Thaksin's private plane has landed in Thailand. Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's private plane has landed in Thailand. At Don Mueang Airport in the area of the Private Aircraft Passenger Terminal (Mjets), the masses waited to see their faces for the first time in 17 years. (Thairath)