Former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra talks to reporters at the Supreme Court in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
 

In a landmark decision, Thailand's Supreme Court has ordered that Thaksin Shinawatra, a former prime minister, must serve a one-year prison sentence. This ruling marks the first instance of a former Thai prime minister being incarcerated, prompting significant reactions within the country. Thaksin's hospital stay from mid-August 2023 until February 2024 won't count towards his sentence, intensifying the situation.

 

Thaksin's family and supporters have responded to the decision with mixed feelings. His daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, expressed pride in her father's achievements while acknowledging the difficulties that come with them. Despite the verdict, she stated that both her family and the Pheu Thai party remain steadfast in their roles as opposition for the benefit of the people.

 

Paetongtarn also spoke emotionally about the royal intervention that reduced her father's sentence to one year, expressing deep gratitude to His Majesty the King for this act of mercy. Her father’s legacy, as she pointed out, includes significant contributions through policies that have positively impacted many lives in Thailand.

 

Moving forward, the family remains concerned about Thaksin's health and wellbeing, given his ongoing legal challenges. Paetongtarn emphasised her father's enduring influence and commitment to the nation, maintaining hope for his vision of prosperity for the Thai people. The sentencing marks an important turning point in the nation’s political landscape, with potential repercussions for future governance and political dynamics.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways:

 

• The Thai Supreme Court has sentenced Thaksin Shinawatra to one year in prison.
• Thaksin's family and the Pheu Thai party commit to remaining active in politics.
• Royal commutation of Thaksin's sentence shows significant royal involvement.

Related Stories:

 

• Paetongtarn Shinawatra Court Hearing Set for 21 August
• Thaksin's Court Date Uncertain After Abrupt Detour to Dubai

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai PBS World 2025-09-10

 

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Thaksin's family and supporters have responded to the decision with mixed feelings. His daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, expressed pride in her father's achievements while acknowledging the difficulties that come with them.

Like getting caught and serving justice ?

What about the 5 billion Yingluck still owes ?

She could share a cell with her brother.

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Like getting caught and serving justice ?

Like throwing her and his sister under a bus?

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Like getting caught and serving justice ?

hope its a house of cards

Back to TikTok for you please. You did as you were told. Job done. Go on love. 

2 hours ago, portisaacozzy said:

hope its a house of cards

The Shin clan is over...

I have been a little out of touch with this story, is he back in Thailand and going to jail, or is he still in Dubai at the doctors?

4 minutes ago, TTSIssues said:

I have been a little out of touch with this story, is he back in Thailand and going to jail, or is he still in Dubai at the doctors?

Come on...its all over the news (worldwide) plus all social media....do some reading😒

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Her father’s legacy includes significant contributions through policies that positively impacted..........

 

.......the profits made through his company, Shin Corporation

3 hours ago, Will B Good said:

 

.......the profits made through his company, Shin Corporation

he will enjoy his evening meals with the governor.

I'm waiting for the twist, might take a few weeks, but there must be one in the pipeline.

16 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

he will enjoy his evening meals with the governor.

I'm waiting for the twist, might take a few weeks, but there must be one in the pipeline.

 

 

There is one already.......review of prison numbers versus prison places and the idea that prisoners over 70 be considered for early release.........you couldn't write this stuff.

21 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

There is one already.......review of prison numbers versus prison places and the idea that prisoners over 70 be considered for early release.........you couldn't write this stuff.

I think the UK is releasing prisoners early as the Jails are to crowded, but your probably on the button, early release because of age, he already qualifies how long will it take, once the dust settles a month or two??

For some reason I suspect he won't be sharing a small cell with 60 other men.

"Auntie Yingluck...best you cancel that trip back..."...

It doesn't mean anything, other than the conservative elites and their various aparatus can bring down democratically, majority elected, governments and their leaders at pure whim. What would be truly 'historic'? I'd say the jailing of coup leaders who overthrew democratically elected governments would be truly 'historic' - but we'd be waiting forever for that to happen. 

Think about this, Thaksin who is a billionaire and 2x PM is actually in a prison cell while the Red Bull idiot is still free after 14 years for killing a cop.

strange times. 

4 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

For some reason I suspect he won't be sharing a small cell with 60 other men.

There must be a spare room in the governors quarters 

3 minutes ago, BayArea said:

Think about this, Thaksin who is a billionaire and 2x PM is actually in a prison cell while the Red Bull idiot is still free after 14 years for killing a cop.

strange times. 

And the Burmese 2 are still in jail, the red bull brat has proven that he has more influence than Tony

3 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

It doesn't mean anything, other than the conservative elites and their various aparatus can bring down democratically, majority elected, governments and their leaders at pure whim. What would be truly 'historic'? I'd say the jailing of coup leaders who overthrew democratically elected governments would be truly 'historic' - but we'd be waiting forever for that to happen. 

Yes there is some power out there not to be messed with 

12 hours ago, FlorC said:

What about the 5 billion Yingluck still owes ?

She could share a cell with her brother.

Anutin could pay that for her easily from the gunga profits. 

29 minutes ago, BayArea said:

Think about this, Thaksin who is a billionaire and 2x PM is actually in a prison cell while the Red Bull idiot is still free after 14 years for killing a cop.

strange times. 

It's not strange at all. The establishment runs the show here. Red Bull's family are among the richest and most powerful and well-entrenched in that circle. Their kid was never going to jail. Thaksin - at one time part of the establishment - has been an outlier since his re-election 20 odd years ago, and then made enemies among the most influential members of the establishment. That's why he was targeted with dubious criminal charges - which he eventually had to flee - then in recent years he did a deal with some of them to come back to Thailand. Fast forward to this Spring and his party (and himself) lost their usefulness to the HiSo's and so as they were no longer needed and Thaksin never liked by them, so they jailed him. (but started a phony border war first to weaken the government). I reckon they fooled him by saying he wouldn't go to jail for the more serious charges he faced a few weeks ago - for which indeed he was aquitted. Then they sprung the trap - telling him he wouldn't go to jail for this charge either - so he showed up in court thinking he still had allies in the establishment camp. Surprise!

7 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

It's not strange at all. The establishment runs the show here. Red Bull's family are among the richest and most powerful and well-entrenched in that circle. Their kid was never going to jail. Thaksin - at one time part of the establishment - has been an outlier since his re-election 20 odd years ago, and then made enemies among the most influential members of the establishment. That's why he was targeted with dubious criminal charges - which he eventually had to flee - then in recent years he did a deal with some of them to come back to Thailand. Fast forward to this Spring and his party (and himself) lost their usefulness to the HiSo's and so as they were no longer needed and Thaksin never liked by them, so they jailed him. (but started a phony border war first to weaken the government). I reckon they fooled him by saying he wouldn't go to jail for the more serious charges he faced a few weeks ago - for which indeed he was aquitted. Then they sprung the trap - telling him he wouldn't go to jail for this charge either - so he showed up in court thinking he still had allies in the establishment camp. Surprise!

I always thought that the leaked tape and the border war was a setup, just shows how much power is in the background 

1 minute ago, kiwikeith said:

I always thought that the leaked tape and the border war was a setup, just shows how much power is in the background 

Yes, I thought the same. What I still can't figure out is Hun Sen though. Maybe 'they' told him if he played along with this, they would ensure no casinos were built in Thailand and the Thai investigation into the scam call centers would be dropped? Anyway, notice how the whole border thing has gone completely silent since Tacky went to jail? Only 24 hours and that could change I guess, but interesting. 

9 hours ago, TTSIssues said:

I have been a little out of touch with this story, is he back in Thailand and going to jail, or is he still in Dubai at the doctors?

 

...or at a hospital again? 😆

Here is a brief extract from www.asiasentinel, suggesting Hun Sen could have been angered about a sale of Bangchak's shares to him falling through. Whether it is the main reason for the fallout between Hun Sen and Thaksin, who knows?

Thaksin's attempt to build casinos in Thailand, efforts to close the scam centres in Cambodia could be other factors.

What is for sure is both men have many businesses.

 

https://www.asiasentinel.com/p/thaksin-shinawatra-mystery-fixer-man-benjamin-mauerberger

 

Asia Sentinel’s reporting found that a “South African” ,believed to be Mauerberger, acting as the nominee, reportedly used Chartered Group to acquire 31.35 million shares representing 24.96 percent of issued shares of Bangchak Corporation in September 2024.

 

 The shares were said to be held for an “influential politician” –allegedly Thaksin – in the aborted purchase, which sources say were to be flipped to “retired” Cambodian leader Hun Sen.

 

The share transaction had to be cancelled, however, according to a February report by the Thai Isra News outlet, because the Thailand Social Security Fund, which owns 14 percent of Bangchak, refused to sell ,despite pressure from the Pheu Thai government, which Thaksin controls from behind the scenes. That angered Hun Sen.

 

 

 

5 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

It's not strange at all. The establishment runs the show here. Red Bull's family are among the richest and most powerful and well-entrenched in that circle. Their kid was never going to jail. Thaksin - at one time part of the establishment - has been an outlier since his re-election 20 odd years ago, and then made enemies among the most influential members of the establishment. That's why he was targeted with dubious criminal charges - which he eventually had to flee - then in recent years he did a deal with some of them to come back to Thailand. Fast forward to this Spring and his party (and himself) lost their usefulness to the HiSo's and so as they were no longer needed and Thaksin never liked by them, so they jailed him. (but started a phony border war first to weaken the government). I reckon they fooled him by saying he wouldn't go to jail for the more serious charges he faced a few weeks ago - for which indeed he was aquitted. Then they sprung the trap - telling him he wouldn't go to jail for this charge either - so he showed up in court thinking he still had allies in the establishment camp. Surprise!

sounds about right. 

5 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

And the Burmese 2 are still in jail, the red bull brat has proven that he has more influence than Tony

Apparently!

On 9/10/2025 at 10:43 PM, BayArea said:

Think about this, Thaksin who is a billionaire and 2x PM is actually in a prison cell while the Red Bull idiot is still free after 14 years for killing a cop.

strange times. 

Things in common Red Bull scion is also a billionaire (ranks higher on Forbes list no less) 

 

Things not in common one is innocent and is a political refugee the other is guilty but is a political patron 

On 9/10/2025 at 9:54 AM, couchpotato said:

Come on...its all over the news (worldwide) plus all social media....do some reading😒

Thanks - very helpful