Thai king reduces former Prime Minister Thaksin’s prison sentence to one year

Thailand’s King Vajiralongkorn largely pardoned former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (74): Thaksin still has one year left of the eight-year prison sentence he must serve. Thaksin made a formal amnesty request yesterday.

The popular former prime minister was convicted of corruption in 2010 but had already moved to Dubai to avoid what he said was political persecution. Thaksin returned to Thailand just last week. He was immediately arrested but was hospitalized the same night complaining of chest pain and high blood pressure. It is still approved.

His daughter, Paetongtarn, heads the party he founded and entered a coalition with two military-affiliated parties after elections earlier this year. It was widely believed that Thaksin would not have returned to Thailand if he had not faced the possibility of his prison sentence being greatly reduced.

“Loyal to the monarchy”

The royal family said in a press statement that Thaksin “did a good job as prime minister on behalf of the country and the people and is loyal to the monarchy.” “He admitted his guilt, apologized and accepted the verdict.”

Billionaire Thaksin, 74, used the fortune he acquired in telecommunications to establish his own party at the turn of the century. He was elected prime minister in 2001 and re-elected in 2005. Thaksin was seen as a social reformer but also a divisive politician. He was dismissed from the army in 2006 but always had a wide support base.

Source: NOS

follow:
\