Thailand’s jailed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole on Sunday, his lawyer said. He spent six months in detention after returning to the kingdom after more than 15 years of self-imposed exile. According to Reuters, the billionaire was freed from hospital detention six months into a sentence for abuse of power and conflicts of interest that was commuted from eight years to one by the country’s king.
Thaksin, 74, whose family’s party is now in power in Thailand, was seen leaving the hospital in a black Mercedes van early on Sunday, Reuters reported. He was wearing a green shirt and with his arm in a sling, sitting beside his youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the leader of the ruling Pheu Thai party.
The former Thailand PM was eligible for parole due to his age, health condition, and time served, and had been detained in a hospital on health grounds. His daughter Paetongtarn shared a post by one of her followers on Instagram alongside an image of her in the vehicle with her father, which carried the message: “Thaksin has arrived home, hope he will have good health.”
Speaking to Reuters, Thaksin’s lawyer, Winyat Chartmontri, said that he had completed parole proceedings and had formally been released. Despite 15 years in self-imposed exile to avoid charges, Thaksin has loomed large over politics for two decades. According to Reuters, Thaksin has long insisted that the charges were cooked up by his enemies to keep him at bay.
Thaksin returned from exile in August to serve his jail time and was met by cheering crowds and a media frenzy. He was transferred to the hospital suffering from high blood pressure and chest pains on his first night in jail, and he has been detained there ever since.
