Report Supreme Court Trial Looms, but Thaksin May Walk Free Again

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FILE – Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, left, with, his daughter Paetongtarn, arrives at Don Muang airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

 

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra might avoid a return to jail following his Supreme Court trial next month, according to partisan sources. The elite political powers are keen to maintain Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin's daughter, as Thailand's Prime Minister.

 

This would allow Thaksin to remain influential, leading observers to assume that he will be acquitted of charges related to an alleged fake illness that kept him in Police Hospital for six months.

 

The unnamed authorities prefer Paetongtarn over other potential candidates due to her manageability and trustworthiness as far as her father is concerned. Those other candidates, like Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Deputy Prime Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, only lead their parties nominally.

 

For these preferred candidates to be considered, Paetongtarn would need to resign without dissolving the House of Representatives, which would otherwise prompt a general election.

 

Thaksin's ability to avoid jail could largely be due to the political strategy of using his influence to maintain Paetongtarn's position whilst counteracting the Orange Party, the reincarnation of the defunct Move Forward party.

 

Paetongtarn could serve as a reliable figure for the elite in continuing the conservative governance model, whilst Thaksin allegedly guides party strategies and government actions from behind the scenes, via unofficial communication channels.

 

The Supreme Court, which tries cases involving political figures, is expected to rule based on potentially contradictory legal statutes, which could potentially favour Thaksin, who has been a key player in forming the Pheu Thai-led coalition government.

 

The outcome of his trial may rest on the balance of interpretations between the Criminal Code and the Corrections Act regarding his reported manipulation for leniency.

 

Thaksin previously faced an eight-year sentence on charges of power abuse during his premiership. His sentence was cut to one year through royal pardon, which he allegedly avoided serving entirely.

 

Despite previous convictions, Thaksin reportedly orchestrated the political manoeuvres that rebuilt alliances, replacing Move Forward with conservative factions in the latest coalition, highlighting his ongoing political clout.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai Newsroom 2025-05-07

 

 

[Artisi]

Of course he will walk free, this is Thailand. 

[Jim Blue]

This man can walk on water !