The rules of the Thai court must be purged for a year in prison

The high -level court of Thailand judged that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra should serve a year in prison, in another blow to the influential political dynasty.

The decision concerns a previous case where he was sentenced to years in prison for corruption, but ended up spending less than a day in a prison cell while he was transferred to the hospital.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court judged that this transfer was illegal – and that the 76 -year -old should serve his sentence in prison.

Thaksin and his family dominated Thai policy since he was elected PM for the first time in 2001. His daughter Paetongtarn was leader but was removed from his duties last month for a disclosed telephone call.

Shortly after the announcement of the decision, Thaksin published a declaration on social networks declaring that “even if I lose my physical freedom, I will always have freedom of thought for the benefit of my country and its people”.

He also swore to maintain his strength to serve the monarchy, Thailand and its inhabitants.

The former Prime Minister was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and spent years living in self-imposed exile, mainly in Dubai.

Upon his return to Thailand in 2023, he was quickly judged and found guilty of corruption and abuse of power during his mandate and sentenced to eight years in prison.

After Thaksin’s plea for a royal forgiveness, the Thai king committed his sentence at a year.

But Thaksin spent only hours in a prison cell before complaining about heart problems – and was then transferred to a luxury wing of the General of the Thailand police hospital.

He stayed there for six months, then received parole and moved to his home in Bangkok.

On Tuesday, a judge of the Supreme Court declared in a statement that Thaksin “knew or could perceive that he was not in critical or emergency state”.

The judge added that he had underlying chronic medical conditions but could have been dealt with as an outpatient.

The “14th floor”, as he is known in Thailand due to the hospital where he stayed, had seized many Thai people who looked to see if the PM would end up serving a sentence in prison.

Treatment of the case has led to criticism of many Thai people, who say that rich and powerful often have privileged treatment.

Before Tuesday’s decision, there was a meticulous examination on the place where Thaksin is located.

Last week, he flew from Thailand to a private jet in Dubai, where he said he was looking for medical treatments. He declared on social networks that he intended to return to Tuesday’s hearing.

He introduced himself to the Bangkok court on Tuesday morning with Paetongtarn, smiling and welcoming the media and a group of supporters. Thaksin wore a suit with a yellow tie, the color associated with the Thai monarchy.

Paetongtarn told journalists after the decision she was “worried” for her father but that he and their family were in “good humor”.

She also said that she would advance the Thai Pheu Party of the family in their work as an opposition party.

The case takes place at a time of political disorders in Thailand.

Paetongtarn was involved in the controversy after the Cambodian chief Hun Sen disclosed a phone call he had with her above the Thai-Cambodia border conflict, in which she was heard addressing him as “uncle”.

She was then removed from his functions after the Constitutional Court found her violating the ethical standards expected from her office.

Last week, the Parliament of Thailand chose Anutin Charnvirakul as a new PM, the third in two years.