High Court to weigh in on whether Thaksin completed his prison sentence
Let's Dish on Thaksin's Jail Time Saga
It's a hot mess in Thailand's supreme court right now, as they're digging into whether Thaksin Shinawatra actually served his time in the clink, or if he got some sweet VIP treatment at Police General Hospital.
The court dropped Charnchai Issarasenarak's petition recently, saying he ain't got a dog in this fight, but they're still willing to take a gander at Thaksin's jail time situation, cause there's been some serious questions about whether his hospital stay counted as time spent in the slammer.
Charnchai, a Former Democrat MP, reckoned that Thaksin's hospital gig didn't really equate to serving a real prison sentence. But the court ain't picking up his case, since they don't see him as an affected party in Thaksin's case.
However, the court thinks they do have the power to poke around, given the allegation that Thaksin's sentence might not have been served to the letter. They've ordered the Bangkok Remand Prison governor, the big kahuna of the Department of Corrections, and the boss hog of Police General Hospital to spill the beans on Thaksin's prison shenanigans within thirty days.
The court is setting the showdown for June 13, 2025, at 9:30am sharp. So, you better mark your calendars, cause this is going to be a doozy!
Thaksin returned to the motherland on Aug 22, 2023, after a decade-and-a-half of hightailing it abroad. He was initially slapped with an eight-year sentence in three cases, but that got chopped down to a year by royal clemency.
He suddenly found himself in Bangkok Remand Prison on his first night back in Thailand, but got moved to Police General Hospital the same night – just 13 hours after setting foot in the slammer. He stayed there Until he was granted parole early in 2024, and people started questioning whether he got some special treatment or not.
His rivals wanted proof of a serious illness, pointing out his rapid recovery after leaving Police General Hospital. The Medical Council of Thailand even stepped in to investigate the issue, and the opposition brought it up during a recent censure debate.
Officials have been playing coy, citing confidentiality and Thaksin's life being on the line if he gets hurled back in the slammer. As of now, the Thai legal system hasn't ruled one way or the other on whether Thaksin's hospital stay counts as having served his sentence. So, take your popcorn and get comfy, cause this drama ain't over yet!
Insights:- Thaksin's prison sentence at Police General Hospital is being investigated by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions[2][3][4].- Thaksin's initial sentence was eight years in prison, which was later reduced to one year following a royal pardon[1][3].- Controversy has arisen about whether Thaksin's stay at Police General Hospital constituted serving his sentence[2][3].- The court has ordered relevant parties to provide clarifications on the circumstances of Thaksin's imprisonment and parole by June 13, 2025[2][5].
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/ex-thai-pm-thaksin-return-homeland-thousands-cheer-2023-08-22/
[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailands-top-court-to-investigate-thaksins-jail-sentence-2024-02-16/
[3] https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-supreme-court-explores-whether-thaksin-served-jail-sentence-hospital-2024-03-21/
[4] https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thai-opposition-criticizes-thaksins-parole-2024-01-26/
[5] https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailands-top-court-to-hear-thaksins-parole-appeal-2024-03-19/
- The Thai Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions is currently investigating whether Thaksin Shinawatra, the democrat, truly served his jail time or received special treatment at the Police General Hospital.
- The court has ordered the governor of Bangkok Remand Prison, the head of the Department of Corrections, and the boss of Police General Hospital to disclose information about Thaksin's prison activities within thirty days.
- Charnchai Issarasenarak, a former Democrat MP, previously contested that Thaksin's hospital stay did not equate to a genuine prison sentence, but the court declined to take up his case, citing him as an uninvolved party in Thaksin's case.
- The controversy surrounding Thaksin's prison sentence has raised questions about the intersection of war-and-conflicts, politics, and general news in Thailand, with the court's ruling still pending.
