Picture courtesy of Siam Rath

 

Thailand's Supreme Court has set September 9 to deliver its verdict on whether ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra avoided prison by getting cushy treatment at the Police General Hospital instead of serving time behind bars. This high-profile case has captured national attention, as questions swirl around the legality of his hospital stay.

 

The court concluded its seventh and final hearing with great impact, as Thaksin's lawyer invited former Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam to testify. Wissanu, who was acting as justice minister when Thaksin made his dramatic return to Thailand on August 22, 2023, provided insights into two critical meetings about security and medical arrangements.

 

Wissanu revealed that Thaksin received VIP treatment for three reasons: his past as a prime minister, potential threats from inmates, and his health needing constant supervision.

 

Despite the buzz surrounding a royal pardon cutting Thaksin’s sentence from eight years to one, Wissanu maintained his role was limited to co-signing the decision.

 

The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions spearheaded the inquiry, which kicked off on April 30. This happened despite the court tossing out a petition from former MP Chanchai Issarasenarak due to inadequate standing. Yet, the case continued due to “reasonable doubts” about the laws guiding Thaksin’s sentence, as noted by The Nation.

 

Previously, the court heard from a range of witnesses, including the Bangkok Remand Prison commander, prison doctors, hospital staff, and Corrections Department officials.

 

With the outcome pending, anticipation is skyrocketing, leading to intense public scrutiny and debate.

 

All eyes are set on September 9.

 

The decision could redefine the boundaries between power and privilege, and confirm whether Thaksin's hospital bed stay was a shortcut to justice. The verdict promises to be a landmark moment in the saga of one of Thailand's most polarising political figures.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-31

 

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Wissanu revealed that Thaksin received VIP treatment for three reasons: his past as a prime minister, potential threats from inmates, and his health needing constant supervision.

 

The first reason; His past as a prime minister should not even be mentioned, if he did wrong he should pay the price this is elite cronyism pure and simple.

 

Second reason; Potential threats from inmates; I am sure if they wanted to they prison officials could make sure he was safely looked after again a feeble excuse.

 

Third reason; his health needing constant supervision; Everyone with half a brain knows this was BS, look how quickly he recovered & has been able to travel around upon his release.

 

Thaksin should man up and admit he was trying to con the people - Really sad and it does further illustrate the kind of person he really is.

 

Thailand's Supreme Court has set September 9 to deliver its verdict on whether ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra avoided prison by getting cushy treatment at the Police General Hospital instead of serving time behind bars. This high-profile case has captured national attention, as questions swirl around the legality of his hospital stay.

 

Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
-Everybody Knows, Leonard Cohen

Second reason; Potential threats from inmates; 

 

Well if Tony was locked in a concrete hell hole in solitary confinement 23 hours a day at the prison he would have been very safe from the other inmates.....

 

I am sure quite a few inmates in solitary confinement would like a helicopter ride to a 5 star luxury suite to finish serving their sentence.....Along with a BIG pardon reducing  their sentence...

Having been a prison visitor on several occasions, I cannot support the fiction that prisons (that I have visited) are hell holes. They are more like centers of boredom for prisoners, with strict discipline. Sure, compared to European prisons they are meant to be places of punishment not reform but educational programs are helping people to develop themselves these days before returning to the outside.

Please dont insult the people of Thailand, I have not met one person who is fooled by this, I am told some of the rooms in that hospital have a lovely view overlooking the golf coarse, 

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

Having been a prison visitor on several occasions, I cannot support the fiction that prisons (that I have visited) are hell holes. They are more like centers of boredom for prisoners, with strict discipline. Sure, compared to European prisons they are meant to be places of punishment not reform but educational programs are helping people to develop themselves these days before returning to the outside.

Thank you

pretty much to any right thinking person

 

send him to prison to serve his sentence and add 20 years for attempting to pervert the course of justice .......... oh and throw away the key

2 hours ago, Purdey said:

Having been a prison visitor on several occasions, I cannot support the fiction that prisons (that I have visited) are hell holes. They are more like centers of boredom for prisoners, with strict discipline. Sure, compared to European prisons they are meant to be places of punishment not reform but educational programs are helping people to develop themselves these days before returning to the outside.

are you having a laugh

September 9.

 

Unless of course the ruling is "unexpectedly delayed" due to "unforeseen circumstances" - which translates to "negotiations (regarding brown envelopes) are ongoing".

Reckon the Thai population should all don a neck-brace on Sep 9. Unless of course a yellow shirt is the preferred option.🙃🙃

Can't wait to see justice being exercised 

I look forward to the 9th September so I can determine if Thailand is totally corrupt with a corrupt political system and legal system or are really trying to start  to get there act together!

8 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

 

The first reason; His past as a prime minister should not even be mentioned, if he did wrong he should pay the price this is elite cronyism pure and simple.

 

Second reason; Potential threats from inmates; I am sure if they wanted to they prison officials could make sure he was safely looked after again a feeble excuse.

 

Third reason; his health needing constant supervision; Everyone with half a brain knows this was BS, look how quickly he recovered & has been able to travel around upon his release.

 

Thaksin should man up and admit he was trying to con the people - Really sad and it does further illustrate the kind of person he really is.

Hm, everybody knows what kind of person Thaksin really is. I think this case has proven to everybody .. (what they suspected or knew already) .. the corruption of the political and justice system at all levels in Thailand.

 

12 hours ago, webfact said:

Wissanu revealed that Thaksin received VIP treatment for three reasons: his past as a prime minister, potential threats from inmates, and his health needing constant supervision.

A dodgy shoulder ?

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Can't wait to see justice being exercised 

Might be a long wait... 

Just now, hotchilli said:

Might be a long wait... 

Many bends apparently 

1 minute ago, newbee2022 said:

Many bends apparently 

More moves than a girl up a pole in Walking street..

I'll ask the wife what she thinks will happen, she <deleted> hates him, and the rest of the family,

26 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

I'll ask the wife what she thinks will happen, she <deleted> hates him, and the rest of the family,

Agree with that. Talking to the Wife she says they are waiting until the hostilities cease then they are going to get ready to throw the whole family out. Around here they are convinced he is somehow involved in starting the fight to divert attention from the political problems the family is having. They hate the whole family with a vengeance.

13 hours ago, webfact said:

Wissanu revealed that Thaksin received VIP treatment for three reasons: his past as a prime minister, potential threats from inmates

if anything saves his butt, these 2 reason will. 

 

13 hours ago, webfact said:

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam to testify. Wissanu, who was acting as justice minister when Thaksin made his dramatic return to Thailand on August 22, 2023, provided insights into two critical meetings about security and medical arrangements.

So perhaps a deal was struck with these terms if he returns. But, Wissana is a PTP member and therefore will say anything Thaksin tells him to. 

Wissana should be charged and convicted of misleading the Thais and making a deal with Thaksin that allows him to circumvent any prison time.

30 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

I'll ask the wife what she thinks will happen, she <deleted> hates him, and the rest of the family,

Why "hate" him?  Did she meet him personally once? Did he treat her badly? 😳

Why bother We all know whats going to happen  a convicted  felon is going to get away again 

Questionable Questionable please this Ahole had absolutely nothing wrong with him he has stolen billions of dollars from Thailand and when he is convicted he runs away to dubai and hides for 18 years until the military government that want to lock him up is out of power then he comes back and does Zero time in prison 5 minutes in the Royal suite in Bangkok hospital please this POS needs to be locked up... Let's not forget his Les Majesty charges or has he already worked is way out of those if so then all prisoners on the same charges need to be released immediately. 

2 hours ago, AhFarangJa said:

Agree with that. Talking to the Wife she says they are waiting until the hostilities cease then they are going to get ready to throw the whole family out. Around here they are convinced he is somehow involved in starting the fight to divert attention from the political problems the family is having. They hate the whole family with a vengeance.

I remember my wife saying a while ago by September the Army will take over, that was while the daughter was PM, so now she's not have to wait and see, 

16 hours ago, webfact said:

getting cushy treatment at the Police General Hospital instead of serving time behind bars.

Maybe getting alleged cushy treatment?

So much for neutral unbiased journalism.

13 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

 

The first reason; His past as a prime minister should not even be mentioned, if he did wrong he should pay the price this is elite cronyism pure and simple.

 

Second reason; Potential threats from inmates; I am sure if they wanted to they prison officials could make sure he was safely looked after again a feeble excuse.

 

Third reason; his health needing constant supervision; Everyone with half a brain knows this was BS, look how quickly he recovered & has been able to travel around upon his release.

 

Thaksin should man up and admit he was trying to con the people - Really sad and it does further illustrate the kind of person he really is.

Be fair, if you were in his position with wealth and political clout you would do the same, it's a rich mans world.

2 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

Why bother We all know whats going to happen  a convicted  felon is going to get away again 

There is one in the West causing world wide financial mayhem, which is worse I think. Thaksin's shenanigans don't affect me and nobody ever thought that the Thai justice system was a model of propriety.

4 hours ago, AhFarangJa said:

Agree with that. Talking to the Wife she says they are waiting until the hostilities cease then they are going to get ready to throw the whole family out. Around here they are convinced he is somehow involved in starting the fight to divert attention from the political problems the family is having. They hate the whole family with a vengeance.

 

I said this on other threads and was pelted with dislikes.

 

Och well. 

17 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

 

The first reason; His past as a prime minister should not even be mentioned, if he did wrong he should pay the price this is elite cronyism pure and simple.

 

Second reason; Potential threats from inmates; I am sure if they wanted to they prison officials could make sure he was safely looked after again a feeble excuse.

 

Third reason; his health needing constant supervision; Everyone with half a brain knows this was BS, look how quickly he recovered & has been able to travel around upon his release.

 

Thaksin should man up and admit he was trying to con the people - Really sad and it does further illustrate the kind of person he really is.

 

He should have a worse penalty for committing crimes of corruption while PM.  In Singapore police who commit crimes get stiffer punishments than others which is as it should be.