Arrr! Thailand's king be showin' mercy to that scallywag Thaksin Shinawatra, cuttin' 'is prison stay to a measly year!
2023-09-01
Arrr, ye scallywag Thaksin Shinawatra be a lucky sea dog! His sentence be cut from eight long years to a measly one! The scoundrel had the gall to beg for a royal pardon, and it seems he struck gold. Aye, the winds of fortune blow in his favor, mateys!
In a surprising move, Thailand's king has reduced former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's eight-year prison sentence to just one year. Thaksin recently returned to Thailand after 15 years of self-imposed exile, and it is widely believed that he hoped a new government friendly to him would reduce his sentence. The decision by King Maha Vajiralongkorn was published in the Royal Gazette, making it effective immediately. Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, giving the king the final say on pardons for convicted criminals.Thaksin, who was ousted as prime minister in a military coup in 2006, faced accusations of corruption, abuse of power, and disrespecting the monarchy. He fled Thailand in 2008 to avoid prison time, which he claimed was politically motivated. After his return, Thaksin was sent to prison, but he was quickly transferred to a state hospital due to reported health issues.
Thaksin's return also coincided with the election of Srettha Thavisin of the Thaksin-affiliated Pheu Thai party as prime minister. Pheu Thai formed a coalition with pro-military parties linked to a 2014 coup that ousted Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, from government. The royal decree granting Thaksin clemency stated that he had acknowledged his guilt, worked to benefit the country, and remained loyal to the monarchy.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam dismissed speculation that Thaksin was being given special treatment, stating that he would be treated as a normal convict and return to prison once his health issues were resolved. Thaksin's case and his return to politics have reignited tensions between his supporters and opponents in Thailand's deeply divided political landscape.