Thailand’s Supreme Court has ruled that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra must return to prison, overturning a hospital transfer that allowed him to avoid serving time behind bars.
The court said Tuesday that Thaksin’s move to Bangkok’s Police General Hospital shortly after his 2023 conviction was unlawful. Judges ruled the 76-year-old was not in critical condition and should have been treated as an outpatient instead of spending months in a luxury ward.
Thaksin, a billionaire telecom tycoon turned populist leader, was sentenced last year to eight years in prison for corruption and abuse of power dating back to his time in office. But he spent less than a day in a cell before being moved to hospital for what he claimed were heart problems. Six months later, he received parole and returned home to Bangkok. His sentence was also reduced to one year following a royal pardon.
The decision marks a fresh setback for the powerful Shinawatra family, which has dominated Thai politics since Thaksin first became prime minister in 2001. His daughter Paetongtarn briefly led the Pheu Thai party but was ousted last month over a leaked phone call with Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
After the ruling, Thaksin posted on social media that while he was losing his “physical freedom,” he still had “freedom of thought for the benefit of my country and its people.” He pledged to stay strong in service of the monarchy and the nation.
Thaksin’s return to court has drawn intense public scrutiny in Thailand, where many citizens accuse the justice system of giving the wealthy and well-connected special treatment. The saga has even earned a nickname the “14th floor case” referencing the hospital floor where he stayed.
The former prime minister had been living in exile for years, mostly in Dubai, after being ousted in a 2006 military coup. He came back to Thailand last year, was convicted, and quickly resumed his political influence despite legal troubles.
Last week, Thaksin flew once again to Dubai for medical treatment but returned to Bangkok to face the court. He appeared in court Tuesday with his daughter Paetongtarn, smiling and wearing a suit with a yellow tie a color linked to Thailand’s monarchy.
Paetongtarn told reporters she was worried for her father but said the family remained in “good spirits.” She vowed to continue leading Pheu Thai in opposition.
The ruling comes during a turbulent period for Thai politics. Just last week, parliament chose Anutin Charnvirakul as Thailand’s new prime minister, the country’s third in two years, after his Bhumjaithai party broke away from Pheu Thai’s coalition.
Meanwhile, Thaksin recently escaped another major case: a court last month acquitted him of insulting the monarchy, a charge that can carry long prison terms.
Still, the Supreme Court’s ruling ensures that one of Thailand’s most controversial political figures will once again serve time in jail at least this time inside a cell, not a hospital suite.
