Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrives at the Supreme Court in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Wason Wanitchakorn)

 

In a significant decision, Thailand's Justice Minister has denied former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s plea for a further Royal pardon of his one-year jail term. The rejection was outlined in a formal letter dated September 23rd, addressed to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul by then Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong. This decision sends Thaksin's request back to the Office of the Secretary-General of the Cabinet.

 

This marks Thaksin's second attempt to secure a Royal clemency, sparking discussions around its legal standing. Concerns have been raised by law experts questioning the legality and propriety of seeking another Royal intervention when the sentence had already been reduced. Kaewsan Atibodhi, a legal expert and former law professor at Thammasat University, explained that Thaksin’s original eight-year sentence had already been commuted by the King, making further intervention unlikely.

 

Thaksin spent 17 years abroad to evade his sentence, which was then commuted to one year. Since his return, the Corrections Department has yet to enforce the prison term. Justice Minister Rutthapon Naowarat has tasked a panel, led by the justice permanent secretary, Pongsawat Neelayothin, to review the legal aspects of Thaksin's second plea, with a report due next Monday.

 

Kaewsan commended the justice minister for rejecting the plea, suggesting it would have faced rejection by the Office of the Privy Council as well. The situation remains tense as everyone awaits the next steps following the panel's review.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Thaksin's second Royal pardon plea has been denied.
• Legal experts question the validity of seeking a further pardon.
• A panel has been set up to review the legal implications of the plea.

Related Stories:

 

Confirmed: Thaksin Requests Royal Pardon After 1-Year Sentence

Legal Debate Over Thaksin's Royal Pardon Request

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai PBS WORLD 2025-10-03

 

 

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

This marks Thaksin's second attempt to secure a Royal clemency,

 

He's stil a crybaby.

He should Saty a bit longer makes new connections and maybe get new ideas, for him it should be a place of learnings

and not a prison, Thaksi, make lemonade out of those lemons mate.

So the Justice Minister who oversaw Thaksin's 2023 parole and early release and who himself was suspended by the Constitutional Court earlier this year from overseeing the DSI investigation into the Senate election dodginess has quashed Thaksin's appeal.

 

Same washing machine, different rinse cycle.

Man up and do your time

On 10/3/2025 at 8:55 AM, webfact said:

This decision sends Thaksin's request back to the Office of the Secretary-General of the Cabinet.

Return to Sender...... I love that song

On 10/3/2025 at 8:55 AM, webfact said:

The rejection was outlined in a formal letter dated September 23rd,

So why the relatively long delay before it was reported publicly especially for something that is forefront in so may minds?

On 10/3/2025 at 8:55 AM, webfact said:

In a significant decision, Thailand's Justice Minister has denied former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s plea for a further Royal pardon of his one-year jail term.

 Heading up to the temple to do some merit making on this momentous occasion 🙏 

Finally a little little bit of justice. 

Hopefully this whole farce will have an end. 

And we won't ear so much bla bla about him.

Poor Tony, the guy never catches a break.

On 10/3/2025 at 9:09 AM, watchcat said:

 

He's stil a crybaby.

And if you were facing jail for ANYTHING you want us to think you wouldn't do the exact thing? Any and every possible thing to avoid jail? Hypocrite.

On 10/3/2025 at 9:09 AM, watchcat said:

 

He's stil a crybaby.

Like every other (wannabe) dictator or autocratic leader in the world: all talk, but when it comes down to it, they’re all tiny little petty cowards.

7 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

And if you were facing jail for ANYTHING you want us to think you wouldn't do the exact thing? Any and every possible thing to avoid jail? Hypocrite.

Don't do dodgy deals and you live life as a free man

In his case he should spend a few years inside

Tonis Teflon seems molten

On 10/3/2025 at 9:29 AM, NanLaew said:

So the Justice Minister who oversaw Thaksin's 2023 parole and early release and who himself was suspended by the Constitutional Court earlier this year from overseeing the DSI investigation into the Senate election dodginess has quashed Thaksin's appeal.

 

Same washing machine, different rinse cycle.

Different story in the BK post saying its still alive and going to be looked at next week

Meantime little red bull continues to flaunt being a drugged up cop killer whose connections and money keep him living the good life but somehow the "justice department" can't seem to find him.

16 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

Different story in the BK post saying its still alive and going to be looked at next week

The cheque was honoured after all

46 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

Different story in the BK post saying its still alive and going to be looked at next week

 

Yes, the DSI investigation is ongoing. The point I was making is the CC demanded the JM remove his fingers from the pot over the fear that his "supervision" could be seen as influencing or tainting the outcome (more than it's probably tainted already).

On 10/3/2025 at 8:55 AM, webfact said:

The situation remains tense as everyone awaits the next steps following the panel's review.

 

Third time lucky?

Just do the time old man, suck it up and be a man about this. Your family is one of the most toxic and corrosive families in the entire nation, and you deserve this prison term more than a lot of people. 

Good.  Do the time.  Thais will have more respect for you if you're not sniveling about how old you are and in need of a pardon. 

I'll make a bet that there are many people Thaksin's age and older who have been locked up for long periods of time and are looking forward to being locked up a long time in the future.  The difference?  Those people are nobodies.  Thaksin considers himself to be a somebody and deserving of special treatment.  

Realistically, how many people were you responsible for sending to the prison you are now in during your time in office as PM?  Like accused drug dealers who managed not to get extra-judicially removed and managed to make it to a court system? 

So stop whinging and man up.  Do your full year, and then when released, leverage your experience with a bit of humility.  Thais will respect you more.  If you think it's unfair, then work for prison reform when you're released.  

On 10/3/2025 at 2:55 AM, webfact said:

Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrives at the Supreme Court in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Wason Wanitchakorn)

 

In a significant decision, Thailand's Justice Minister has denied former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s plea for a further Royal pardon of his one-year jail term. The rejection was outlined in a formal letter dated September 23rd, addressed to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul by then Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong. This decision sends Thaksin's request back to the Office of the Secretary-General of the Cabinet.

 

This marks Thaksin's second attempt to secure a Royal clemency, sparking discussions around its legal standing. Concerns have been raised by law experts questioning the legality and propriety of seeking another Royal intervention when the sentence had already been reduced. Kaewsan Atibodhi, a legal expert and former law professor at Thammasat University, explained that Thaksin’s original eight-year sentence had already been commuted by the King, making further intervention unlikely.

 

Thaksin spent 17 years abroad to evade his sentence, which was then commuted to one year. Since his return, the Corrections Department has yet to enforce the prison term. Justice Minister Rutthapon Naowarat has tasked a panel, led by the justice permanent secretary, Pongsawat Neelayothin, to review the legal aspects of Thaksin's second plea, with a report due next Monday.

 

Kaewsan commended the justice minister for rejecting the plea, suggesting it would have faced rejection by the Office of the Privy Council as well. The situation remains tense as everyone awaits the next steps following the panel's review.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Thaksin's second Royal pardon plea has been denied.
• Legal experts question the validity of seeking a further pardon.
• A panel has been set up to review the legal implications of the plea.

Related Stories:

 

Confirmed: Thaksin Requests Royal Pardon After 1-Year Sentence

Legal Debate Over Thaksin's Royal Pardon Request

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai PBS WORLD 2025-10-03

 

 

Brown envelope not big enough 🤷🏼

3 hours ago, Rinato said:

Finally a little little bit of justice. 

Hopefully this whole farce will have an end. 

And we won't ear so much bla bla about him.

Only when  he dies! Happy days!

An off topic deflection post about the Blue Party has been removed. 

 

A post speculating about the King has been removed:

•  Speculation, comments or discussion of either a political or personal nature are not allowed when discussing His Majesty The King of Thailand or the Thai royal family. 

 

On 10/4/2025 at 1:32 PM, pomchop said:

Meantime little red bull continues to flaunt being a drugged up cop killer whose connections and money keep him living the good life but somehow the "justice department" can't seem to find him.

Absolutely, a bloody disgrace but it shows money overrules the legal system, ethics & morals in LOS!! 

 

I see my post has been removed so I will reword it.

 

To receive a pardon, Thaksin does not need to be successful in petitioning the Justice Minister

18 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

I see my post has been removed so I will reword it.

 

To receive a pardon, Thaksin does not need to be successful in petitioning the Justice Minister

Yes thats what I thought!

On 10/3/2025 at 8:25 AM, webfact said:

In a significant decision, Thailand's Justice Minister has denied former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s plea for a further Royal pardon of his one-year jail term. 

 

Wow, my opinion of the current government just went up quite a bit!

1 hour ago, Will B Good said:

To receive a pardon, Thaksin does not need to be successful in petitioning the Justice Minister

And, in a very different context, Little Red Bull doesn't need to be 'found' & extradited from wherever.

 

The Thai Army has highly trained um experts in removing awkward people from - shall we say - harm's way.

On 10/4/2025 at 2:32 PM, pomchop said:

Meantime little red bull continues to flaunt being a drugged up cop killer whose connections and money keep him living the good life but somehow the "justice department" can't seem to find him.

So Red Bull playboy is more well connected than a popular former PM who contributed much service to Thailand. 
This country is indeed out of whack