Thailand’s Supreme Court ordered the arrest of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, saying he will face eight years in prison on the day the former ruler returned to the country after 15 years of exile.
However, the imminent return to power of his family’s associated party, Pheu Thai, may give him hope of a pardon or guarantee a reduced sentence.
The 74-year-old billionaire, who was in power between 2001 and 2006 before being ousted in a coup, is expected to spend eight years behind bars for three cases tried in his absence, related to his management of the country and his former company Shin Corp, decided the highest court in the kingdom.
Accused of corruption, the telecommunications magnate was taken under police escort to the Supreme Court shortly after arriving at Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport in his private jet from Singapore.
The return of the veteran politician, considered the brains of Pheu Thai – which has dominated Thai politics in recent years and came second in the May elections – coincides with today’s parliamentary session, in which the party’s candidate is expected to , Srettha, be elected Thaivisin. Prime Minister.
Since the uprising that toppled Thaksin, Thailand has lived in deep political instability that has kept the country in a cycle between anti-government protests, periods of military-led dictatorial and democratic vacuums.
In an attempt to seize power, Phue Thai announced an alliance with two formations linked to the military that carried out the coup in 2014 against the government of Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin’s sister, who also won the 2011 elections at the head of Phue Thai and who went into exile.
Source: TSF
