Thailand’s Supreme Court has ordered former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to serve one year in prison, ruling that he illegally avoided jail time by staying in a private hospital instead of a prison cell. Last year, the 76-year-old returned to Thailand after remaining in exile for more than a decade. On return, he was sentenced to eight years for corruption and abuse of power, which was later reduced to one year by royal pardon. Thaksin was granted early release under a scheme for elderly prisoners. But the court found his stay in the hospital was not medically necessary, and ruled it could not be counted as time served.The ruling comes just days after his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, recently lost her position as Prime Minister after a court ruling.
Thaksin was first elected in 2001 and led a populist movement that has long clashed with Thailand’s military-backed and royalist establishment. His return to politics last year sparked accusations of backroom deals and special treatment as his party, Pheu Thai, formed a new government.
