Thailand’s Supreme Court orders Thaksin Shinawatra to serve one-year prison term

Thailand’s Supreme Court has ruled that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra must serve a one-year prison sentence, in a landmark decision that revisits his 2023 conviction for fraud and abuse of power. The ruling, delivered on 9 September 2025, focused on whether Thaksin’s stay in a private suite at a police hospital from August 2023 to early 2024 could be considered valid time served. The court found that the 76-year-old was not seriously ill during this period and ruled that the stay did not qualify as imprisonment. Judges stated that Thaksin had intentionally prolonged his hospitalisation and that responsibility did not lie solely with doctors. Following the verdict, Thaksin appeared at the courthouse, removed his jacket, and entered a prison van. In a statement posted on Facebook, Thaksin expressed acceptance of the ruling and extended gratitude to King Maha Vajiralongkorn for the royal pardon that had reduced his sentence from eight years to one. He described the clemency as “immeasurable royal grace” and stated he was ready to proceed under the court’s judgment. Reflecting on his time in office from 2001 to 2006, Thaksin defended his administration’s policies, saying he had aimed to improve quality of life and reshape Thai politics through performance-based governance. He characterised this period as a time of policy-driven competition and participatory democracy, which he described as his proudest achievement as an elected politician. He acknowledged that the charges brought against him only emerged following the 2006 military coup that ousted his government. However, he declared his intention to let the matter rest, stating that he would no longer contest past legal or political disputes tied to his name. Thaksin also thanked supporters, members of the Pheu Thai Party, and political allies for standing by him “in both good times and difficult ones.” He said his decision to accept the prison sentence was made in part to encourage others to focus on working for the nation, religion, monarchy, and the Thai people. “Even if I no longer have freedom, I still have freedom of thought for the benefit of the country and its people,” Thaksin wrote. He pledged to maintain both physical and mental strength so that he could continue to serve the monarchy and Thailand in whatever capacity he could in the future. Thaksin was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment in 2023 upon his unexpected return to Thailand after 15 years in self-imposed exile. The sentence was later commuted to one year by royal pardon, and he was released early due to age-related considerations. Despite his conviction, Thaksin had not spent time in a correctional facility before this ruling, having been admitted to hospital shortly after his return. The Supreme Court’s verdict marks another blow to the Shinawatra political dynasty. His daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was removed from office on 29 August 2025 by court order for ethics violations, less than a year into her term. She became the sixth Shinawatra-backed prime minister to be ousted by either judicial or military means. Thaksin caused renewed speculation in late August when his private jet, initially bound for Singapore, rerouted mid-flight to Dubai — a city where he previously lived during his exile. The detour triggered online debate over whether he intended to avoid the court’s final ruling, though he returned to Thailand before the hearing. Although his Pheu Thai party returned to power in 2023, the political landscape has shifted significantly. Last week, the Bhumjaithai party, formerly a coalition partner, took the lead in forming a new government, pushing the Pheu Thai party out of power.