Bangkok, Feb 18 (EFE).- Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand’s former prime minister, was granted conditional parole on Sunday, six months after his arrest on corruption charges following his return from 15 years of exile.
Thaksin walked out of the police hospital in Bangkok in a black car surrounded by a battery of journalists.
He then traveled to his home, where more media personnel had gathered, as shown in EFE-EPA images.
The 74-year-old controversial politician was among 930 prisoners granted parole due to health concerns or advanced age. His release was announced a day earlier by Prime Minster Srettha Thavisin.
Thaksin’s return to the country in August last year, after 15 years of exile, led to his arrest and subsequent sentencing to eight years in prison for alleged corruption during his 2001-2006 tenure.
Thaksin was admitted to the police hospital in Bangkok after his arrest. He was under the custody of the Department of Prisons, bypassing immediate incarceration due to his fragile health condition.
Despite being on parole, the former prime minister may still be detained in the future as the Thai Prosecutor’s Office is investigating allegations of offenses against the monarchy based on a 2015 interview. At present, no charges have been filed.
Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 military coup. His return to Thailand on August 22, 2023, coincided with the election of his ally Srettha Thavisin as prime minister, with backing from two pro-military parties.
In September, Thaksin received a royal pardon from monarch Maha Vajiralongkorn, reducing his accumulated prison sentence from eight years to one.
The move was perceived as a step towards reconciliation between Thailand’s pro-military and pro-monarchist factions. EFE
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