Thai King commutes Thaksin Shinawatra’s jail term

Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has reduced former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s prison sentence to one year, just days after Thaksin’s return from 15 years of self-imposed exile.

Thaksin, aged 74, was initially sentenced to serve eight years in jail upon his arrival in the country on 22nd August. However, he recently submitted a petition for a royal pardon, which has resulted in the commutation of his sentence, reports Dimsum Daily.

After being overthrown in a military coup in 2006, the former leader Thaksin Shinawatra fled Thailand in 2008 to evade corruption charges. Upon his recent return to the country, the Supreme Court sentenced him to prison for three out of the four corruption convictions that were previously handed down in his absence.

Thaksin’s homecoming has been interpreted as a result of a political agreement with the military establishment, which has a history of removing his family and political allies from power over the past two decades.

Shortly after his return, Srettha Thavisin, a nominee from the coalition led by the Pheu Thai Party, which is effectively controlled by Thaksin, was elected as Thailand’s new prime minister.

/MHK/