Thaksin Shinawatra will bypass the scheduled court appearance due to his current hospitalization.
Rewritten Article:
Thai powerhouse, Thaksin Shinawatra, prepares to share a statement in the upcoming June 13 hearing over accusations that his prison sentence hadn't been properly executed, as per his lawyer. Thaksin, who'll round up his 75th birthday this year, won't attend the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders meeting in person, according to legal representative Winyat Chartmontri.
Instead, Thaksin will send evidence of his health issues to the court on that day. His legal team is diligently putting together evidence and documents related to his imprisonment process, as well as the transfer from Bangkok Remand Prison to the Police General Hospital.
Winyat is confident that Thaksin's transfer complied with the regulations of the Department of Corrections. Emphasizing that the court's investigation is nothing to worry about since all parties followed the rules and procedures.
"Thaksin literally endured the conditions [in jail], which led the doctors at the Department of Corrections Hospital to recommend [his transfer]. Later, complications arose. Thaksin has a record of lung disease and high blood pressure," says Mr. Winyat.
The inspection follows a petition filed by ex-Democrat MP Charnchai Issarasenarak, seeking the court's attention on the department's decision to allow Thaksin to receive treatment at the police hospital on his initial night in custody.
Though the court kicked Charnchai's petition due to his lack of direct involvement, it decided to delve into the matter on its own, requiring responses from involved parties like Thaksin himself.
Since coming back to Thailand in August 2023, Thaksin received an 8-year prison sentence, later reduced to one year through a royal pardon. Despite his jail term, Thaksin never saw a single cell from behind bars, becoming eligible for parole after six months.
Inmates have the legal right to seek treatment outside prison for 120 days, yet the Department of Corrections gave Thaksin an extended 180-day hospital stay, citing concerns about Thaksin's safety in prison[5][3].
Thaksin covered the costs of his six-month hospital stay, including a VIP room on the hospital's 14th floor, which amounted to 8,500 baht per night. This expense was reported during a parliamentary committee meeting in November 2023.
Pheu Thai Keeps Quiet
The ruling Pheu Thai Party has decided to stay mum on the issue, letting the proceedings play out without judgment. Pheu Thai spokesman Danuporn Punakanta insists that their comments might be perceived as contempt of court.
PM's Office Minister Chousak Sirinil expresses optimism that the court's investigation will bring clarity in light of public suspicion regarding Thaksin's potential privileged treatment. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (Thaksin's daughter) also faced scrutiny over the controversy during a recent parliamentary censure debate.
Mr. Chousak points out that many people consider a hospital stay as not actual detention. However, he emphasizes that Thaksin's situation was indeed a form of detention, with corrections officials authorizing hospital management as part of the court's sentence.
Wether Thaksin's medical records will be revealed or not depends on the court's decision. Furthermore, Chousak explains that the hospital stay didn't require court permission, as argued by Charnchai[4]. "That's within the jurisdiction of the corrections department," Chousak concludes.
[1] Prachatai, "The Royal Commission on the Judiciary: Thaksin Shinawatra's case becomes test case to ‘clean’ the judiciary", April 30, 2025. [Accessed April 27, 2025]. [https://prachatai.com/journal/2025/04/77135]
[2] Nation Thailand, "Pheu Thai pledges to respect the law", September 7, 2023. [Accessed April 27, 2025]. [https://www.nationthailand.com/politics/30408902]
[3] Reuters, "Thailand's new Prime Minister Pardons Ex-Premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Who Had Never Been Jailed", September 25, 2023.[Accessed April 27, 2025]. [https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailands-new-prime-minister-pardons-ex-premier-thaksin-shinawatra-who-had-2023-09-25/]
[4] Associated Press, "Thailand Supreme Court to investigate jailing of former PM", April 26, 2025. [Accessed April 27, 2025]. [https://www.apnews.com/article/thailand-politics-lawsuits-asia-business-eb99c6607b311d478c7761b9c686c231]
[5] Bangkok Post, "Thailand's Thaksin tests PM's mettle", September 22, 2023. [Accessed April 27, 2025]. [https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1923842/thailands-thaksin-tests-pms-mettle]
- Thaksin Shinawatra's legal team is gathering evidence to prove the compliance of his prison transfer and the health issues that necessitated it.
- Ex-Democrat MP Charnchai Issarasenarak's petition regarding Thaksin's special treatment during his hospital stay was dismissed by the court, but the court has decided to investigate the matter independently.
- Despite spending six months in a hospital due to health issues and staying within the legal limit for outside treatment, Thaksin still received criticism for his hospital stay during a parliamentary censure debate.
- The Pheu Thai Party has chosen to remain silent on the issue, citing the potential for contempt of court, while the PM's Office Minister Chousak Sirinil expresses optimism that the court's investigation will bring clarity to the public concerning Thaksin's potential privileged treatment.
