Thailand’s Supreme Court has ordered former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to serve a one-year prison sentence, ruling that the time he spent in a hospital wing before his parole does not count as jail time.
Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup and lived in self-exile, returned to Thailand in 2023 to face an eight-year sentence on charges of abuse of power, conflict of interest, and corruption. His term was later reduced to one year under a royal pardon.
However, the court ruled that the six months he spent in a hospital wing should not be considered part of his sentence.
“Sending him to hospital was not legal, the defendant knows his sickness was not an urgent matter, and staying in the hospital cannot count as a prison term,” the court said in its ruling on Tuesday.
Thaksin was granted parole in February 2024, citing health concerns, but the Supreme Court’s decision now raises uncertainty over his legal and political future.
The former telecom tycoon remains one of Thailand’s most influential and polarizing figures, with deep support in rural areas but continued opposition from conservative and military-aligned groups.
