So, I remember looking at this year's ago when it surfaced.  The law that the Shin family used was on the books for a time before their attorneys figured out how to use it for some major gains and tax savings.  Nothing at the time was fishy, just big numbers.  Sort of like Roth IRAs and Peter Thiel utilizing the little known or used self-directed rule where he had $5 billion in 2019 sitting in it,  almost all gain, that will be tax free when he takes it out.  All legit under the law.

9 hours ago, WHansen said:

Stupidly rich or not, that is going to sting.

The man has a target on his back, that's for sure.

OH ,come on everybody give him a go the poor buggar is locked up in prison and up to his armpits in sh%T everyday shovelling sewerage  and there's only one bucket of water between 30 inmates for washing and everyone is picking on him.              

Quote

 Thaksin Shinawatra to pay 17.6 billion Thai baht in taxes

 

Oops,  as they say. 

He is still wealthy  and won't be to worried about the fine   

Still liked in parts of Thailand by Thai people 

Won't be losing sleep 😴  over some expats not liking him 

The poor man will barely be left with a few billion to rub together.  😢

He's not looking too great either these days. In the topic picture it looks like someone set his head on fire and beat the flames out with a cricket bat. 

you'd think with all that money he'd have had something done about that boat race. Ain't he an ugly bar steward. 🤣😂

What about the taxes on the hundreds of millions that the Bimbo daughter owes from the funds he gave her, holding it all 'offshore' and claimed she has signed a 'promise' to pay 'eventually'??  

 

8 hours ago, harada said:

Obviously the fat big brown envelopes haven’t reached the top of the tree. 🤑

I would expect that these were correctly placed, but that other parties may have similarly placed even fatter brown envelopes.

This is simply further proof that this family is finished, they are done for, the reign of influence is over, and it could not happen soon enough. Decades ago they used to be widely admired and respected, and many people gave them much credit for passing Universal Health Care, and doing things that actually improved the lives of the people.

 

Those days are long gone and this family has been nothing but toxic for a long time now, and even my friends in Issan who used to support him, and who used to widely support him, now despise him and the entire family, and they see right through them for exactly who they are. This is a great outcome. 

1 hour ago, DrPhibes said:

So, I remember looking at this year's ago when it surfaced.  The law that the Shin family used was on the books for a time before their attorneys figured out how to use it for some major gains and tax savings.  Nothing at the time was fishy, just big numbers.  Sort of like Roth IRAs and Peter Thiel utilizing the little known or used self-directed rule where he had $5 billion in 2019 sitting in it,  almost all gain, that will be tax free when he takes it out.  All legit under the law.

Nonsense

44 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Nonsense

Which part, Shins or Thiel?  

59 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

This is simply further proof that this family is finished, they are done for, the reign of influence is over, and it could not happen soon enough. Decades ago they used to be widely admired and respected, and many people gave them much credit for passing Universal Health Care, and doing things that actually improved the lives of the people.

 

Those days are long gone and this family has been nothing but toxic for a long time now, and even my friends in Issan who used to support him, and who used to widely support him, now despise him and the entire family, and they see right through them for exactly who they are. This is a great outcome. 

Totally agree. Whilst improving the lives of the impoverished masses some 20 years ago, his sole agenda was to buy votes to enable him to feather his own nest. To the tune of billions. 

You can argue the merits of a lese majeste law but, if there is one and it is enforced, it should be applied equally to rich and poor. The evidence in Thaksin’s case looked much more robust than many others which resulted in stiff sentences for lesser mortals and it is correct that the new Anutin appointed AG should appeal.

 

He was caught out on the tax because he stupidly believed that Temasek would buy his offshore companies with the SHIN shares in them ( and god knows what other liabilities) deposited at Singapore with UBS Bank.  Most serious investors refuse to do that and It was obvious that a government wealth fund could not do that, even though they did some dubious stuff to conceal the illegal foreign majority ownership in SHIN afterwards.  Then he was forced to transfer off market at an artificial price below market price and sold to Temasek on market at the tender offer price.  It is a totally clear cut tax liability and there are precedents where others had to pay tax on similar off market transactions at below market price. Thai listed shares sold off market are liable to tax and only exempt if sold through the market. 

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

This is simply further proof that this family is finished, they are done for, the reign of influence is over, and it could not happen soon enough. Decades ago they used to be widely admired and respected, and many people gave them much credit for passing Universal Health Care, and doing things that actually improved the lives of the people.

 

Those days are long gone and this family has been nothing but toxic for a long time now, and even my friends in Issan who used to support him, and who used to widely support him, now despise him and the entire family, and they see right through them for exactly who they are. This is a great outcome. 

 

You nailed it.  It is time that Thai people were allowed to move on from this toxic family.  Hopefully this will finish Thaksin and his family can just enjoy their billions in peace and not inflict themselves on public life any more. 

41 minutes ago, DrPhibes said:

Which part, Shins or Thiel?  

The selling of shares to Singapore through the children

9 hours ago, Stressed Eric said:

...That five star penthouse in Dubai doesn't look so bad now, does it Thaksin?

 

Rookie move coming back here.

 

Eric.

He claims that it was his love for Pad Thai that brought him back to Thailand. Just wonder how the Pad Thai taste in prison. Too much MSG perhaps... 

17 minutes ago, Shocked farang said:

He claims that it was his love for Pad Thai that brought him back to Thailand. Just wonder how the Pad Thai taste in prison. Too much MSG perhaps... 

Soup and rice is all they usually get in Thai prisons.

 

Eric.

Good luck with that one

The fine should have been accompanied by a jail sentence, interest on the amount he stole (and how about if that interest is matched to the kind of interest he and his despicably detestable grotesque evil family made on their shares - something around 4,850% by my calculation), and court costs for all of these years of litigation that cost taxpayers a bundle.
This man is so disgusting, he should be in solitary confinement for the rest of his life. And this is only one of MANY things he did. One thing that the media never talks about much at all (at least I haven't seen it) is all of the laws he manipulated as PM that served to enrich him.
He oh so cares about his beloved homeland... you can see how much he cares by the billions of baht he has used (NOT!) to help rehabilitate the education system among a vast number of things he could do if he really cared about his country. His corruption goes WAY back to the 80's, with the police radio insanity. He got away with at the very least that and never stopped. It won't be good enough until his family line ends. 
17.6 billion is a pittance for what he has done. It's like the traffic cop letting you go for a couple hundred baht. But, since I never expected anything at all like this to come against him, I'm glad to see that he at the least is losing face. Of course, the brainwashed idiots who blindly support him will never see him as losing face though.... Just like any cult-like political following.

The political vendetta continues.  The man may have to give up some money, but he has had 20 years to  put some  away in safe countries. I expect that he will apply for another pardon.

 

21 hours ago, dinsdale said:

How the tables have turned. The Shins are finished. They are no longer needed to keep the miltary establishment status quo. As for finished this extends to the PTP as a whole.

 

Perhaps, but millions still support them. They won't go  away quietly.

 

17 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Corrupt to the core, while his beloved rice farmers are mostly broke

 

Some rice farmers were broke before Thaksin. They were broke because their farms were not efficient; in size and in operation. Also, the farmers were not good at what they did. Some farmers were wealthy and have done well.

Anutin wants early elections coz he’s scared of Mr T’s influence. Someone with the clout to sway a sitting PM’s decision without even lifting a finger is far from finished 

On 11/18/2025 at 9:48 AM, FritsSikkink said:

Did you read the article?

Yes - which is why I asked if this is the 1st step towards his being eased back into society.

'The Supreme Court orders Thaksin to pay 17.6 billion baht in taxes.

Previous court rulings in his favour have been overturned.'

16 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Yes - which is why I asked if this is the 1st step towards his being eased back into society.

'The Supreme Court orders Thaksin to pay 17.6 billion baht in taxes.

Previous court rulings in his favour have been overturned.'

Paying overdue tax has nothing to do with a criminal sentence for doing something else.

4 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Paying overdue tax has nothing to do with a criminal sentence for doing something else.

Let's agree to differ for a year and see if Thaksin's sentence is reduced?

57 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Yes - which is why I asked if this is the 1st step towards his being eased back into society.

'The Supreme Court orders Thaksin to pay 17.6 billion baht in taxes.

Previous court rulings in his favour have been overturned.'

 

Tony is not going to pay the 17 billion to get out of jail early..

 

I would be more than happy to spend a year in jail for 17 billion baht....Just show me where to sign up.... 

Vindictive government, for sure

Pity they aren't going after the billions of baht the corrupt generals have pocketed over the years while in charge

Me thinks Thaksin wishes he had stayed in Dubai in September instead of returning.  Me also thinks his family are well underway to remove as much money out of Thailand and other locations, and move it to Dubai.  Then as soon as he is released from jail he will be sneaking out of the country and join his Sister in Dubai, and many other members of the Shin Clan/Family will be there sooner or later.  

 

8 minutes ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

Me thinks Thaksin wishes he had stayed in Dubai in September instead of returning.  Me also thinks his family are well underway to remove as much money out of Thailand and other locations, and move it to Dubai.  Then as soon as he is released from jail he will be sneaking out of the country and join his Sister in Dubai, and many other members of the Shin Clan/Family will be there sooner or later.  

 

Hope the door smacks him on the arse as he leaves.