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Thaksin Sentenced to 1 Year in Prison Over Hospital Leave Case

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On 9/9/2025 at 5:50 AM, webfact said:

Thaksin Jailed: Ex-PM Ordered to Serve One Year Over Hospital Scandal

 

11C7E16A-0DB8-4118-9B9F-1AFFBA4E64A7-1024x683-1.webpPictures courtesy of ประชาชาติธุรกิจ

 

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been sentenced to serve one year in prison after a Supreme Court ruling. The decision follows a scandal involving his special stay at the Police General Hospital (PGH), which had sparked accusations of unfair treatment.

 

The legal saga began when former MP Chanchai Issarasenarak contested Thaksin's sentence enforcement. Following the court's verdict, Thaksin was immediately detained.

 

The court declared that his time in the hospital would not count towards his sentence and referred the matter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission for further investigation.

 

Thaksin returned to Thailand on 22nd August 2023 after 15 years in self-exile. Initially sentenced to eight years, his punishment was reduced to one year via royal clemency.

 

His stay at the PGH during his sentence raised eyebrows, prompting accusations of preferential treatment and sparking public outrage.

 

His immediate re-incarceration marks the end of a detailed probe into his case, including numerous hearings. Chanchai's petition initiated the case in January, accusing officials of improperly relocating Thaksin to the hospital against legal procedures. Testimonies from key figures, including former Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, played a crucial role in the court’s final ruling.

 

The political drama around Thaksin's return and hospitalisation has captivated the nation. He only spent 13 hours in Bangkok Remand Prison after his return, which sparked a debate about the legality and equality of enforcement. Despite the verdict, Thaksin's supporters, gathered in large numbers at the court, remain steadfast in their support for the embattled ex-leader.

 

image.png  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-09-09

 

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For once in Thailand justice has been done.

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  • Lock him up. He already wriggled out of the first try. No bail, no appeal, like monopoly, "Go straight to jail". 

  • He will not serve one day in a prison cell.

  • Well you could knock me over with a feather at this time. No way I would predict this.I thought he was tipped off and all was okay for his return. Now lets see if he (actually ) spends time in a

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On 9/9/2025 at 12:28 PM, thesetat said:

Not to mention how his jail time will be served, if ever. 

 

But will be be able to post bond? is this the final decision with all options to delay or fight the verdict used up? Doubtful. 

It's the decision of the Supreme Court. No higher Court to appeal to.

  • Popular Post
7 minutes ago, SunsetT said:

For once in Thailand justice has been done.

 

 

I hear what you say......however....one year for this......

 

 

### 1. **Conflict of Interest – Shin Corporation Shareholding**
Thaksin was found guilty of using **nominees to hold shares** in **Shin Corporation**, a telecom giant he founded before entering politics.  
- While serving as Prime Minister, he **approved policies** that directly benefited Shin Corp, including regulatory changes and tax exemptions.  
- The court ruled this violated ethical standards and was a **clear conflict of interest**, as he retained indirect control over the company while shaping national telecom policy.

---

### 2. **Abuse of Power – Myanmar Loan Scheme**
Thaksin authorized a **4-billion-baht low-interest loan** from Thailand’s EXIM Bank to the **Myanmar government**.  
- The loan terms were unusually favorable and allegedly structured to **benefit Shin Corp’s satellite business**, which had deals pending in Myanmar.  
- The court found this to be an **abuse of executive authority**, using state resources to advance private business interests.

---

### 3. **Corruption – Special Lottery Project**
Thaksin pushed through a **special lottery scheme** that diverted public funds in ways that violated budgetary law.  
- The project bypassed normal parliamentary scrutiny and led to **financial losses for the state**.  
- He was convicted for **violating his legal and ethical duties** as Prime Minister by misusing public funds for politically motivated programs.

 

3 hours ago, Stuck in Thailand said:

 

Wow, imagine that as a reality for x amount of months/years. Absolutely horrendous.

It can be worse than that, cell sizes of 20 square meters with 30+ prisoners per cell (that is head to toe - side to side by side sleeping arrangements - no room for anyone that moves around in their sleep)... with one squat toilet per cell with very little privacy... and you are locked in the cell for more than half the day...

 

The 5 by cell is relatively nice accommodations.  That picture of 5 to a cell is going to give foreigners the wrong idea of humane treatment of prisoners in comparison.  That cell with 5 is for 'special cases' (i.e. high profile individuals).  

  • Popular Post
8 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

I hear what you say......however....one year for this......

 

 

### 1. **Conflict of Interest – Shin Corporation Shareholding**
Thaksin was found guilty of using **nominees to hold shares** in **Shin Corporation**, a telecom giant he founded before entering politics.  
- While serving as Prime Minister, he **approved policies** that directly benefited Shin Corp, including regulatory changes and tax exemptions.  
- The court ruled this violated ethical standards and was a **clear conflict of interest**, as he retained indirect control over the company while shaping national telecom policy.

---

### 2. **Abuse of Power – Myanmar Loan Scheme**
Thaksin authorized a **4-billion-baht low-interest loan** from Thailand’s EXIM Bank to the **Myanmar government**.  
- The loan terms were unusually favorable and allegedly structured to **benefit Shin Corp’s satellite business**, which had deals pending in Myanmar.  
- The court found this to be an **abuse of executive authority**, using state resources to advance private business interests.

---

### 3. **Corruption – Special Lottery Project**
Thaksin pushed through a **special lottery scheme** that diverted public funds in ways that violated budgetary law.  
- The project bypassed normal parliamentary scrutiny and led to **financial losses for the state**.  
- He was convicted for **violating his legal and ethical duties** as Prime Minister by misusing public funds for politically motivated programs.

 

This is just the tip of this mans corruption       the guy is a con man  totally corrupt and a murderer in the eyes of the un crime against humanity

 

7 minutes ago, elektrified said:

It's the decision of the Supreme Court. No higher Court to appeal to.

Well there is one other person, (who mustn't be discussed) isn't there?

Treading carefully here..."Can said person override the Supreme Court under the Thai Constitution?"

 

Although someone did say in this large thread that only one Royal Pardon is allowed, and Thaksin has already had one. (?)

I have no idea if that's true or not

1 minute ago, VBF said:

Well there is one other person, (who mustn't be discussed) isn't there?

Treading carefully here..."Can said person override the Supreme Court under the Thai Constitution?"

 

Although someone did say in this large thread that only one Royal Pardon is allowed, and Thaksin has already had one. (?)

I have no idea if that's true or not

why dont you use google and find out    or read the news 

On 9/9/2025 at 6:46 AM, ChipButty said:

I hope he goes through the normal strip search and squat to make sure he got nothing up his bum, 

Hm, people like that will never be punished like us, the common people.

He will have a separate room, and some services. In jail, everything is for sale and prison guards will jump to take care of him and get a tip !

And the prison manager will ask him every day if everything is alright, and if there is anything that he would like to change ?? !!

Somebody whispered in my ear that he could have the special room where "Rakesh Saxena" stayed for several years ,...

16 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

"...where influential prisoners spend their time in air conditioned areas with access to internet".

Only if they are admitted to the Klong Prem hospital (which is not airconditioned).   You have any evidence that what you claim is true?   

 

"...you know zilch about the Thai prison system".

And you, having never been incarcerated there do?     Do me a favour.

I said the hospital has air conditioning. I visited my wife’s father there. Next time I’ll ask if I can take my phone in to take of photo of the air conditioner as some wise guy doesn’t believe me.

 

If you think a billionaire with the influence of Taksin will be treated like normal prisoners you are deluded.

If you think prison guards, earning less than 50,000 baht a month can’t be bought, again you are deluded.

Do you know about Kamnam Poh? 
 

Talk about a know it all !!

On 9/9/2025 at 5:27 AM, marin said:

Lock him up. He already wriggled out of the first try. No bail, no appeal, like monopoly, "Go straight to jail". 

Yes and get his soldier pal Prayut in beside him for leading an illegal coup.

 

Just now, NoshowJones said:

Yes and get his soldier pal Prayut in beside him for leading an illegal coup.

 

Thailand was much better under Prayud.

On 9/9/2025 at 5:54 AM, jaideedave said:

Well you could knock me over with a feather at this time. No way I would predict this.I thought he was tipped off and all was okay for his return.

Now lets see if he (actually ) spends time in a jail cell. I'm thinking there's not enough room in the cell for both him and his ego! This is epic news (to me anyway)

There will be an appeal which will probably take years.

 

2 minutes ago, NoshowJones said:

There will be an appeal which will probably take years.

 

No appeal         read the news 

Wow, the past coupla days have seen the Mr T hate mob in a frenzy of predictions: firstly that he will stay in Dubai then, when it was clear that his plane was en route to Singapore, the AN sages were convinced that he wasn’t on the plane, then when it was confirmed that he was indeed on the plane the hate mob fell back on “he knows the outcome and won’t spend an hour in custody “.

Wrong on all counts eh haters?

17 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

why dont you use google and find out    or read the news 

That would normally be my response!

The information Google returns about the Thai constitution is conflicting in several areas.

 

Quite honestly, I WAS being too lazy to plough through all the news - there's so much of it!

On such a sensitive issue, it may be better though, but it was something of idle curiosity rather than a burning need to know.

6 minutes ago, NoshowJones said:

There will be an appeal which will probably take years.

 

This is a special political Supreme Court, there can’t be an appeal.

8 minutes ago, NoshowJones said:

Yes and get his soldier pal Prayut in beside him for leading an illegal coup.

 

I you read or do some research you will see Prayut  had immunity from prosecution  instead of putting up  stupid posts  

1 hour ago, bkkcanuck8 said:

It can be worse than that, cell sizes of 20 square meters with 30+ prisoners per cell (that is head to toe - side to side by side sleeping arrangements - no room for anyone that moves around in their sleep)... with one squat toilet per cell with very little privacy... and you are locked in the cell for more than half the day...

 

The 5 by cell is relatively nice accommodations.  That picture of 5 to a cell is going to give foreigners the wrong idea of humane treatment of prisoners in comparison.  That cell with 5 is for 'special cases' (i.e. high profile individuals).  

 

Yes, I did also think that way and have heard the stories of many more than 5 in a cell, but just that misery of a small cell, even for 5, the bars on the window, no fan, the dirty walls, the hole in the ground as a toilet, the heat etc and just the pure boredom. Not sure how long I'd last in there.

 

I have no doubt that prisons in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam are even worse.

49 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

No appeal         read the news 

Who has the authority to grant parole?

1 minute ago, GreasyFingers said:

Who has the authority to grant parole?

 

The King....but the word is he won't do it twice for the same conviction.

 

On 9/9/2025 at 12:05 PM, Will B Good said:

No—Thaksin cannot appeal the Supreme Court’s ruling. The decision handed down on September 9, 2025, by Thailand’s Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions is final and unappealable

 

You are spot on, but let's see if he goes to jail, or some midnight escape on a private jet.

1 minute ago, Scouse123 said:

 

You are spot on, but let's see if he goes to jail, or some midnight escape on a private jet.

 

 

Crossed my mind that between the courthouse and the jail he might disappear !!!

Is the real Taksin still in Dubai? 

4 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

The King....but the word is he won't do it twice for the same conviction.

 

That seems a bit high up but will take your word for it.

5 minutes ago, GreasyFingers said:

That seems a bit high up but will take your word for it.

In Thailand, only His Majesty the King has the constitutional authority to issue a royal pardon. This power is considered an act of grace, and it applies to both individual and collective pardons 

2 hours ago, geisha said:

Are there other prisons in Thailand where he could possibly get a * better* stay than in Bangkok ? Personally I don’t believe that anyone his age and position should be treated as a common criminal / thug/ dealer/ murderer.

 Only my opinion  of course which holds no weight.

 

He could get a better quality in life in the Bangkok "Hilton" if he is allocated accommodation in the Prison Governor's house - only a suggestion.

So many people on here with such hatred. How easily people forget he was ousted by a military coup as was his sister and his daughter kicked out for a private conversation trying to de-escalate an incident a military officer caused by signing the Thai national anthem in Cambodia! (See the persecution?). I never liked Taksin but and it is a big but "The military do not take arms up against its population". The people voted for them (except his daughter, who was used to suppress a lawfully elected government that certain people did not want to be in government. Now let us not forget the gdp under Mr T was as high as 14% and life for expats was extreamly good. 

2 minutes ago, BritScot said:

So many people on here with such hatred. How easily people forget he was ousted by a military coup as was his sister and his daughter kicked out for a private conversation trying to de-escalate an incident a military officer caused by signing the Thai national anthem in Cambodia! (See the persecution?). I never liked Taksin but and it is a big but "The military do not take arms up against its population". The people voted for them (except his daughter, who was used to suppress a lawfully elected government that certain people did not want to be in government. Now let us not forget the gdp under Mr T was as high as 14% and life for expats was extreamly good. 

And less not forget the 2500 people he was responsible for killing crime against humanity, and who started the trouble in the south  Thaskin  he is a con man and totally corrupt and you seemed to think he deserves sympathy          

 

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