Picture courtesy of Thaipost

 

Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been sent back to prison to serve a one-year sentence after the Supreme Court found his stay in a hospital VIP ward did not qualify as time served. This decision delivers a significant blow to his chances of participating in upcoming election campaigns.

 

Thaksin had returned to Thailand on 22 August 2023, ending more than 17 years of self-imposed exile. Initially sentenced to eight years for abuse of authority, his term was reduced to one year via royal clemency, which he partially served at Police General Hospital instead of a prison cell. The Supreme Court ruled that his transfer to a hospital was unlawful, as it was not essential for his health, resulting in an order for him to return to prison.

 

Thaksin's return coincided with political instability, and hopes for his resurgence were dashed as his legal difficulties resurfaced. Not only did the Supreme Court decision undermine his political comeback, but further complications arose as the Office of the Attorney-General decided to appeal Thaksin’s previous acquittal in a lese-majeste case. This appeal concerns a 2015 interview with a South Korean newspaper that allegedly defamed the monarchy, although a Criminal Court originally acquitted him, citing a lack of evidence.

 

Looking forward, Thaksin's legal battles dim the prospects of his participation in Pheu Thai's election efforts. With his political influence already dwindling due to the collapse of the Pheu Thai-led government, his current situation leaves little room for political manoeuvring, reported the Bangkok Post.

 

Key Takeaways

• The Supreme Court has ordered Thaksin Shinawatra to return to prison.
• Legal troubles further complicate his potential role in election campaigning.
• The Office of the Attorney-General has appealed his lese-majeste acquittal.

 

Related story:

Thaksin’s Parole in Jeopardy as Corrections Tighten Oversight

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-12-30

 

 

 

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

This decision delivers a significant blow to his chances of participating in upcoming election campaigns.

Chances! Under normal circumstances it makes it impossible.

36 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been sent back to prison to serve a one-year sentence after the Supreme Court found his stay in a hospital VIP ward did not qualify as time served. This decision delivers a significant blow to his chances of participating in upcoming election campaigns.

 

Good,  sounds fine whith me.

Will never forgive his lot for giving Indians visa free and the DTV.

for him it was 17 years of self imposed "exile",   for anybody else it would  be described as 17 years "on the run"

Good to get rid of this man and his family at last

11 hours ago, webfact said:

Thaksin's legal battles dim the prospects of his participation in Pheu Thai's election efforts.

 

Says who ?

Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been sent back to prison to serve a one-year sentence after the Supreme Court found his stay in a hospital VIP ward did not qualify as time served. This decision delivers a significant blow to his chances of participating in upcoming election campaigns

Thank the court for a small mercy

20 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been sent back to prison to serve a one-year sentence after the Supreme Court found his stay in a hospital VIP ward did not qualify as time served. This decision delivers a significant blow to his chances of participating in upcoming election campaigns

Thank the court for a small mercy

I bet he is in the prison hospital now, though.

Life is a tad easier in there with proper beds, decent showers and toilets and treadmills

On 12/30/2025 at 8:22 AM, Gottfrid said:

Chances! Under normal circumstances it makes it impossible.

Nice that you used the words 'normal circumstances', but as we all know there's nothing normal about the man or his actions an what he can somehow get away with.

Just waiting for the next tricky moves he and his gang deam up. And not forgetting there another member of the clan (his daughters husband) now mooted as the PM, regardless of the fact that he has zero political experience whatever.

Amazing what taksin expects the Thai public to put up with.

His party are history as he is time for the Shins to head back to Dubai

I'm amazed that we haven't seen any pictures of Taksin doing his so called hard labour or maybe he's not really in prison but walks in and out out when ever he wants too, with his money he could do this but he would need to keep low under the radar.

Also questions remain about the nature of his relationship with the Cambodian leadership.

What a way of wasting one's life; 17+ years on the run, pretending an extended sick leave from jail and then still facing the music.
Others in his age retire normally, enjoy the fruits of their working life, spend quality time with their grand children and are busying themselves with their hobbies and families.

Greed for power and face seems to wipe out anything else it its way :-(

I guess this man still doesn't have a clue about just how finished he is, nobody needs him, nobody wants him, most of his supporters have defected over the severe level of disloyalty that he showed them recently, and his family is pure toxic.

Be gone Thaksin. You and your whole family are traitors to your nation.

18 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Good to get rid of this man and his family at last

Watch this space!

Rising popularity of his son-in-laws? (reference Google)

Thaksin Shinawatra's primary son-in-law is Pitaka Suksawat, who is married to his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra (a prominent politician and former PM), and is also a businessman and former pilot. There's also speculation about Nuttaphong Kunakornwong, husband of Thaksin's other daughter, Pintongta Shinawatra, potentially entering politics. 

• Pitaka Suksawat (Por): Married to Paetongtarn Shinawatra (Thaksin's youngest daughter), he's a businessman/former pilot involved with Rende Development and the Thaicom Foundation, and has served as the spouse of a Thai Prime Minister.

• Nuttaphong Kunakornwong (Note): Married to Pintongta Shinawatra (Thaksin's older daughter), he's a businessman who has faced questions about entering politics for the Pheu Thai Party. 

17 hours ago, blaze master said:

 

Says who ?

PTP power has always been thaksin money and him being able to rally the faithful being in prison his money is tied up and he can not do televised rallies.

No one in his family has any clout

On 12/30/2025 at 8:17 AM, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of Thaipost

 

Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been sent back to prison to serve a one-year sentence after the Supreme Court found his stay in a hospital VIP ward did not qualify as time served. This decision delivers a significant blow to his chances of participating in upcoming election campaigns.

 

Thaksin had returned to Thailand on 22 August 2023, ending more than 17 years of self-imposed exile. Initially sentenced to eight years for abuse of authority, his term was reduced to one year via royal clemency, which he partially served at Police General Hospital instead of a prison cell. The Supreme Court ruled that his transfer to a hospital was unlawful, as it was not essential for his health, resulting in an order for him to return to prison.

 

Thaksin's return coincided with political instability, and hopes for his resurgence were dashed as his legal difficulties resurfaced. Not only did the Supreme Court decision undermine his political comeback, but further complications arose as the Office of the Attorney-General decided to appeal Thaksin’s previous acquittal in a lese-majeste case. This appeal concerns a 2015 interview with a South Korean newspaper that allegedly defamed the monarchy, although a Criminal Court originally acquitted him, citing a lack of evidence.

 

Looking forward, Thaksin's legal battles dim the prospects of his participation in Pheu Thai's election efforts. With his political influence already dwindling due to the collapse of the Pheu Thai-led government, his current situation leaves little room for political manoeuvring, reported the Bangkok Post.

 

Key Takeaways

• The Supreme Court has ordered Thaksin Shinawatra to return to prison.

• Legal troubles further complicate his potential role in election campaigning.

• The Office of the Attorney-General has appealed his lese-majeste acquittal.

On 12/30/2025 at 8:17 AM, webfact said:

So much for his original promise to come back and be a plain grandfather, his snake oil salesman days are over, hang up your flip flops dude!

 

Related story:

Thaksin’s Parole in Jeopardy as Corrections Tighten Oversight

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-12-30