Thai Supreme Court Orders Thaksin Shinawatra To Serve One-Year Jail Term

Thailand's Supreme Court ruled that billionaire and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra must serve one year in jail after determining his six-month detention in a VIP hospital wing did not legally count as time served. The court found that Thaksin intentionally prolonged his hospital stay following his return from 15 years of self-imposed exile and his eight-year sentence for corruption and abuse of power was commuted to one year by the king. Police are expected to take Thaksin into custody immediately following the ruling, marking a significant setback for the influential Shinawatra family that has dominated Thai politics for two decades. This ruling comes shortly after Thaksin's daughter and protégé, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was removed as prime minister by a court decision, further destabilizing the family's political influence. The verdict highlights ongoing political turmoil in Thailand, with the Shinawatra family's dominance repeatedly challenged by the judiciary and military. Following Paetongtarn's ousting, the Pheu Thai party suffered a major defeat, with Anutin Charnvirakul elected as the new premier by parliament.