Thai panel upholds suspension of doctors who helped ex-PM Thaksin dodge jail
BANGKOK: Thailand's medical council on Thursday upheld its suspension of two doctors who enabled influential politician Thaksin Shinawatra to spend his prison sentence in hospital, a day ahead of the start of a Supreme Court case that could see him jailed.
Thaksin, the driving force behind the current government, returned from 15 years of self-exile in 2023 to serve a prison term for abuse of power and conflicts of interest. However, he was sent to hospital after only a few hours in jail, complaining of chest problems.
The polarising billionaire, whose daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra is prime minister, stayed in a VIP wing of the hospital for six months until his release on parole without spending a single night in jail. This prompted public outrage and deep scepticism about the extent of his ailments.
"More than two-thirds of the council voted to uphold the punishments," Medical Council of Thailand vice president, Prasit Watanapa, told reporters.
"Members made the decision based on medical principles, evidence and reason."
The suspensions could impact a case at the Supreme Court that begins on Friday, in which the legality of Thaksin's hospital stay has been challenged. There is a possibility the tycoon could be made to serve that time again, in prison.
Thaksin, 75, remains a towering figure in Thai politics. Though he holds no formal government role, he is highly influential. His lawyer declined to comment on Thursday on the council's decision.
The revival of the controversy over Thaksin's hospital stay comes at a challenging time for Paetongtarn's government, which is seeing its popularity dwindle amid a prolonged struggle to spur economic growth and growing domestic pressure to take a tougher stance on an ongoing border dispute with Cambodia.
Thaksin's sentence was originally eight years, but it was commuted to one year by the king. He became eligible for parole after six months.
The medical council's vote overrides a veto of its earlier decision by Health Minister Somsak Thapsutin, a Thaksin ally.
The council has yet to confirm the duration of the suspension for the two doctors, who it found had issued documents containing false medical information. The doctors denied any wrongdoing and stood by their medical assessments.
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