BANGKOK, Thailand – Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was escorted to Bangkok Remand Prison on Tuesday, September 9, after the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions ordered his one-year imprisonment.
The action follows the court’s enforcement of a sentence against Thaksin, who was convicted on abuse of power charges. The charges date back to his time as prime minister.
At around 11:50 AM, a motorcade arrived at the prison. The second vehicle in the convoy, a white prison van was carrying Thaksin.
According to standard protocol for new inmates, Thaksin will undergo a physical examination, be screened for any existing illnesses, and be quarantined for five days to prevent the spread of COVID-19. After the quarantine period, he will be moved to the main prison area.
The court ruled today that former Prime Minister Thaksin must serve a one-year prison term, effectively resetting his sentence. The court found his extended stay in a police hospital after his 2023 return from exile was unlawful, as his condition was not a critical emergency.
The ruling, which orders him to return to prison, is a major blow to the powerful Shinawatra family, coming just days after his daughter, Paetongtarn, was removed from the prime minister’s office by a separate court ruling. (TNA)
