Thailand’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to return to prison and serve a one-year jail sentence, ruling that his previous transfer to a hospital was not justified under the law.
The court determined that Thaksin’s removal from prison for medical treatment did not meet the criteria for an emergency as outlined in legal regulations. As a result, the former leader must return to custody to fulfill the remainder of his sentence, according to a decision issued on 9 September, 2025.
On August 22, 2023, the court had read a summary of its rulings on three separate cases against Thaksin, handing down a combined prison sentence of eight years. Following the verdicts, a detention order was issued, and corrections officials were instructed to transfer Thaksin to the Bangkok Remand Prison.
However, later that night, Thaksin experienced a medical emergency and was transferred to the 14th floor of the Police General Hospital, where he remained and did not return to Bangkok Remand Prison. He later received a royal pardon, which reduced his prison term to one year, and was subsequently granted parole in accordance with the Department of Corrections’ regulations, effective from February 18, 2024.
Thaksin’s daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, emphasized that her father remains a spiritual leader in politics, always keeping the nation’s well-being in mind and hoping to continue contributing to the country’s stability.
Paetongtarn admitted feeling concerned for her father but also proud of his historical achievements. She noted that Thaksin is the first former prime minister to serve time in prison—a challenging circumstance—but said the family remains in good spirits. She also reaffirmed that the Pheu Thai Party will continue its work as the opposition.
