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

[webfact]

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 !

[crazykopite]

He has to be one of the most powerful individuals in Thailand he appears to be indestructible no wonder he has always got a smile on his face  

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

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.

Certainly avoid... lest stop with the hype

[TheFishman1]

Fix is already in of course he’s gonna walk free TIT

[digger70]

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

 

You'll  see The Slime Sneak slithers his way out Again .

[Red Forever]

17 minutes ago, digger70 said:

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

 

You'll  see The Slime Sneak slithers his way out Again .

Genuine question: In what way have any of Thaksin’s actions, policies, exiles had any effect on your life?

[Purdey]

He wasn't so lucky when he had to flee Thailand in the past. He would have been jailed had he not escaped abroad. Who's to say this time he is stuck as if the court goes against him, the police will be wary of making the same mistake thrice with Yingluck escaping justice too.

Unfortunately, I feel the guilty parties are those that took the sweetener to put him up in a hospital. 

[sambum]

"Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra might avoid a return to jail following his Supreme Court trial next month, ....."

 

What's that strange word that's linked to "Shinawatra" and "jail" - "MIGHT"?????

[dinsdale]

16 hours ago, webfact said:

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra might avoid a return to jail following his Supreme Court trial next month

Might? I'd bet my left nut "will" will be the case. No mights about it. The "fake illness" was all part of the deal and the deal makers (the military, elite, establishment) own the courts.

[faraday]

He'll be fine.

 

He paid the gambling debts: Allegedly 😁

[Peabody]

6 hours ago, Red Forever said:

Genuine question: In what way have any of Thaksin’s actions, policies, exiles had any effect on your life?

Didn't he double the deposit needed for non-immi O visa? Exacerbate the Yala situation?

 

[watchcat]

14 hours ago, crazykopite said:

He has to be one of the most powerful individuals in Thailand he appears to be indestructible no wonder he has always got a smile on his face

 

Only when cameras are nearby

[kiwikeith]

15 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Might? I'd bet my left nut "will" will be the case. No mights about it. The "fake illness" was all part of the deal and the deal makers (the military, elite, establishment) own the courts.

Never going to happen, the poor man had to suffer the heat from wearing a neck brace and he stood upwell to his special medical treatments from the best doctors, good on him.

[digger70]

19 hours ago, Red Forever said:

Genuine question: In what way have any of Thaksin’s actions, policies, exiles had any effect on your life?

The effect is that people are always talking about it and we have to listen to i f we like it or not . anyway wat's it got to do with you  to  ask me,  😠

[anchadian]

The Medical Council has proposed disciplinary actions against three doctors for providing false information about the treatment of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra during his detention at the Police General Hospital.

 

Prof. Dr. Prasit Watanapa, First Vice President of the Medical Council, said one doctor is proposed to receive a warning for not meeting medical standards, while two others are proposed to have their medical licenses suspended for giving inaccurate information.

 

Prof. Dr. Prasit advised against drawing conclusions about whether Thaksin’s illnesses were genuine, stressing that the available evidence did not clearly support claims of a critical condition.

 

The council will submit its proposal to the Minister of Public Health for further action.

 

https://x.com/ThaiEnquirer/status/1920411608276480230

 

[sidneybear]

On 5/7/2025 at 7:06 PM, Red Forever said:

Genuine question: In what way have any of Thaksin’s actions, policies, exiles had any effect on your life?

Well, governments that Thaksin has led (including this one have):

 

1) Jacked up fees for visas,  elite cards, and permanent residence 

2) Imposed tax on remittances into Thailand, impacting almost everyone who brings in money from abroad 

[sidneybear]

I think this article is pretty accurate: Thaksin is the lesser of two evils that the Thai establishment is dealing with at the moment. 

 

The Orange brigade threaten to turn Thailand into a woke, lefty, crime ridden hellhole, like the Western world, where nobody has any respect and Thailand's charming culture gets trampled underfoot. 

 

I hope that the powers that be succeed in defeating these two evils.

[scorecard]

On 5/7/2025 at 4:06 PM, Red Forever said:

Genuine question: In what way have any of Thaksin’s actions, policies, exiles had any effect on your life?

Not really relevant.

All folks are entitled to have an informed opinion. 

[Xonax]

Let's hope that karma also exists in his world!

[candide]

These court cases have no other meaning than to remind Thaksin that’s he's on a tight leash.

[matta01]

The extent of corruption is proportional to the status of those guilty of corruption.