Asia & Pacific

Thailand’s Former Prime Minister Released From Prison on Parole

Billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra was ordered to serve 8 months in jail on corruption charges after seeking to serve his sentence in a hospital.
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Thailand’s Former Prime Minister Released From Prison on Parole
Former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra (C) hugs his daughters, former Prime Minister Paetongtarn (L), and Pinthongta, after he was released on parole from prison in Bangkok on May 11, 2026. Sakchai Lalit/AP Photo
Rachel Roberts
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Thailand’s billionaire former ​prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released from prison on parole on Monday, eight months after ‌a court ordered him to serve the time he sought to avoid with a prolonged hospital stay.

The 76-year-old populist politician dominated Thai politics for a quarter of a century, dividing opinion throughout his time as premier and during his incarceration.

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Rachel Roberts
Rachel Roberts
Author
Rachel Roberts is a London-based journalist with a background in local then national news. She focuses on health and education stories and has a particular interest in vaccines and issues impacting children.