Bangkok: Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been released from Klong Prem Central Prison in Bangkok after serving eight months of a one-year sentence for a corruption-related conviction, marking another dramatic turn in one of Thailand’s most influential and divisive political careers.

The 76-year-old billionaire arrived home on Monday to a gathering of supporters and family members who had assembled outside the prison to welcome him. Around 300 political allies and backers, many waving red roses, cheered as he emerged in a white polo shirt and blue trousers. He smiled and embraced relatives, including his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, before being driven to his residence in western Bangkok.

Speaking briefly to reporters from his car window on arrival at home, Thaksin joked that he had been “in hibernation” and could not recall events clearly, before greeting a small group of supporters outside his residence.

Background

Thaksin, founder of the populist Thai Rak Thai party and prime minister from 2001 to 2006, was the first elected Thai leader to complete a full term in office. His administration became known for policies such as universal healthcare and rural development schemes, which won strong support among poorer voters, particularly in the north and north-east. However, his tenure also deepened political divisions, with critics from urban, royalist and military circles accusing him of corruption and abuse of power.

He was ousted in a military coup in 2006 while abroad and subsequently lived in self-imposed exile for many years, during which he was convicted in absentia on multiple charges including abuse of authority and irregular approval of a state lottery scheme.

Thaksin returned to Thailand in 2023, where he began serving an eight-year sentence that was quickly reduced to one year by royal pardon. He initially served part of his term under hospital detention on medical grounds, a move that drew criticism and public protests over alleged preferential treatment. In September 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that he must serve the remainder of his sentence in prison.

A Justice Ministry review panel later approved his early release on parole, citing his age, good conduct, and a low risk of reoffending. Under the terms of his release, Thaksin will remain on probation for four months, must stay at his registered Bangkok address, wear an electronic monitoring device, and report regularly to probation authorities.

His return to public life comes amid continued political uncertainty for his family’s influence. His daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra briefly served as Thailand’s youngest prime minister in 2024, but was removed from office in August 2025 following a Constitutional Court ruling linked to a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. Meanwhile, the Pheu Thai party, closely associated with the Shinawatra political network, finished third in this year’s general election, underscoring a shifting political landscape in Thailand.

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