The former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was put in jail following his return to Thailand after a 15-year exile.
However, a lot of people think he got a deal that will spare him from spending more time behind bars than necessary.
The front-runner for the position of the next Thai leader is from his Pheu Thai party, and he arrived on Tuesday morning in a private plane.
On the basis of prior convictions for crimes he claims were motivated by politics, he was then given an eight-year sentence.
Conservative royalists have long feared Thaksin, Thailand’s most successful elected leader, and have supported military coups and contentious court proceedings to damage him.
But despite being overthrown by a military coup years ago, the flamboyant, politically aspirational telecoms tycoon is now back.
Hundreds of devoted fans who had camped overnight to greet him cheered as he touched down in Bangkok’s major airport.
He momentarily exited the airport terminal and approached a portrait of the king and queen while being flanked by his two daughters and son.
The 74-year-old was transported right away to the Supreme Court, where he was found guilty three times and given an eight-year term. He was then taken to Bangkok Remand Prison.
Given his senior age, the prison officials there said he will be kept in a ward with particular medical equipment. The first five days of his 10-day quarantine—during which he will be restricted to his room—will also start right away, according to the officials.
According to prison officials, Thaksin will be able to submit a petition from behind bars right away. It has been rumored that he may ask the king for a royal pardon. One to two months may pass during the process.
To celebrate the former leader’s return, hundreds of his “red shirt” ardent followers gathered at Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport on Tuesday morning.
The 63-year-old Samniang Kongpolparn had been waiting to see Mr. Thaksin since Monday night. She had come from Surin province in the northeast, which had historically been a bastion for Mr. Thaksin’s party, like many of the other followers.
“He’s the best prime minister we’ve ever had. Even though I won’t get to see him today, I still wanted to come to show him support,” she said. “I’m ok with them reconciling with the pro-military government, or else we’re stuck with the senators. We don’t want that.”
Source:Ghanapublisher.com
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