BANGKOK: Thailand's king has commuted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's eight-year prison sentence to one year, the royal gazette said on Friday, a day after the billionaire submitted a request for pardon.
The country's most famous politician returned to Thailand last week in a dramatic homecoming after 15 years abroad in self-exile to avoid jail time after he was ousted by the military in 2006.
He arrived on a private jet and was transferred to prison to serve an eight-year sentence on charges of abuse of power and conflicts of interest from during his time in power. On the first night, he was moved to a police hospital over chest pains and high blood pressure.
On Thursday he submitted a request for a royal pardon.
Thaksin "was a prime minister, has done good for the country and people and is loyal to the monarchy," the royal gazette said on Friday.
"He respected the process, admitted his guilt, repented, accepted court verdicts. Right now he is old, has illness that needs care from medical professionals," it read.
Despite being away for 15 years, Thaksin remains an influential figure in Thai policies with parties loyal to him winning every election since 2001 until this year.
His return overshadowed a vote in parliament that installed political ally Srettha Thavisin of the Shinawatra-backed Pheu Thai party, as prime minister.
Srettha, a real estate tycoon, received support from pro-military and conservative parties connected to the same generals who ousted Thaksin's governments in 2006 and 2014.
Thaksin's return and time in hospital have fuelled speculation that he has struck a deal with those very rivals among the country's powerful generals and conservative old money elites - something he and the Pheu Thai party deny.
He remains hospitalised, with authorities citing the need for specialists and advanced medical equipment for his treatment.
"It is his majesty's grace that showed Thaksin mercy," the former leader's lawyer Winyat Chatmontri told Reuters, referring to King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
"Thais should accept and not criticise this outcome because it could be considered a violation of royal power," he said.
Thailand's strict royal insult law shields the monarchy from criticism, carrying a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
Reuters
Fri Sep 01 2023
Thaksin Shinawatra "was a prime minister, has done good for the country and people and is loyal to the monarchy," the royal gazette said. - REUTERS/Filepic
Wanita Palestin mengamuk di WTKL mohon maaf, tertekan fikir anak di Gaza
Aminah berkata, perbuatan di luar kawalan itu berlaku disebabkan rasa tertekan memikirkan keadaaan anaknya yang masih berada di Gaza.
Mangsa banjir di Perak terus meningkat, Selangor menurun
Jumlah mangsa banjir yang ditempatkan di PPS di Perak terus meningkat pagi ini manakala jumlah mangsa di Selangor menunjukkan penurunan.
Letupan baharu menggegarkan Beirut
Memetik laporan Associated Press, rejim Zionis turut menyerang kem pelarian Palestin jauh di utara buat kali pertama ketika ia menyasarkan kedua-dua pejuang Hezbollah dan Hamas.
Pelabur makin yakin, Malaysia disaran tingkatkan keperluan RE
Keperluan tenaga boleh baharu (RE) di negara ini semakin meningkat seiring keyakinan pelabur asing khususnya untuk mewujudkan pusat data, kata Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Dua minggu hilang, nasib Orang Asli Zuzina masih misteri
Pelbagai pihak masih mencari wanita orang Asli Zuzina Abine yang hilang selepas keluar rumah sejak 20 September lalu.
Ringgit dijangka berbanding dolar AS minggu depan
Ringgit dijangka kekal pada paras 4.21 hingga 4.22 berbanding dolar AS minggu depan, tetapi dengan kecenderungan meningkat terhadap dolar AS selepas data senarai gaji bukan ladang (NFP) Amerika Syarikat (AS) bagi September meningkat mendadak kepada 254,000 pekerjaan.
[TERKINI] Enam rakyat Malaysia selamat tiba dari Lubnan pagi ini
Kementerian Luar Negeri mengesahkan seramai enam orang rakyat Malaysia daripada sebuah keluarga selamat tiba di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) dari Lubnan pada pagi ini (6 Oktober 2024).
Konvoi motosikal Seru For Gaza, cerminan sokongan sesama saudara
Liputan Wartawan Astro AWANI, Faida Rahim di acara konvoi motosikal Seru For Gaza di Cafe Rosco sebagai cerminan sokongan kepada saudara sesama Islam di Gaza, yang sudah setahun diperangi keganasan Israel.
Kenanga jangka OPR stabil 3.0 peratus pada 2025
Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd menjangka Kadar Dasar Semalaman (OPR) kekal stabil pada 3.0 peratus sepanjang 2025.
88 badan pensijilan halal luar negara dapat pengiktirafan JAKIM
Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) telah memberikan pengiktirafan kepada 88 badan pensijilan halal luar negara setakat Mei tahun ini.
Thaksin Shinawatra tidak risau tentang pertuduhan kes jenayah terhadapnya
Thaksin dan penyokongnya berpegang teguh kepada pendapat mereka bahawa kesemua pertuduhan terhadapnya adalah bermotifkan politik.
Raja Thailand perkenan Paetongtarn Shinawatra sebagai perdana menteri
Paetongtarn, 37, menerima perkenan diraja secara bertulis daripada Raja Maha Vajiralongkorn dalam satu majlis di ibu pejabat Pheu Thai pada pagi Ahad, dua hari selepas dipilih oleh parlimen.
Bekas PM Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra dapat pengampunan diraja
Bekas Perdana Menteri Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra dilapor telah dimasukkan dalam senarai pengampunan diraja untuk banduan dan tempoh parol akan berakhir esok.
Paetongtarn Shinwatra dipilih sebagai PM baharu Thailand
Pemimpin parti Pheu Thai, Paetongtarn Shinawatra memperoleh undi majoriti di Parlimen untuk menjadi Perdana Menteri Thailand ke-31.
Pheu Thai calonkan anak perempuan Thaksin sebagai calon PM
Paetongtarn yang berusia 37 tahun adalah anak perempuan kepada jutawan yang juga bekas Perdana Menteri Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra.
Kes hina monarki: Bekas PM Thailand Thaksin bebas dengan ikat jamin
Mahkamah berkata Thaksin telah menafikan semua pertuduhan dan memohon ikat jamin kerana faktor usia.
Thaksin buat penampilan umum pertama sejak dibebaskan dari penjara
Ia merupakan penampilan umum pertamanya sejak dibebaskan awal daripada hukuman penjara kerana rasuah dan salah guna kuasa.
Bekas PM Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra dibebaskan dengan parol
Thaksin meninggalkan hospital pada 6.06 pagi Ahad, di mana beliau berada sejak mahkamah menjatuhkan hukuman penjara terhadapnya.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Bekas PM Thailand Thaksin diberi parol - Menteri Kehakiman
Menteri Kehakiman Thailand Tawee Sodsong mengumumkan bahawa bekas perdana menteri Thaksin Shinawatra telah diberikan parol.