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Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Top Thai court calls witnesses in probe into Thaksin's hospital stay
Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Thailand in August 2023 after more than a decade in exile. (AFP pic) BANGKOK : Thailand's top court today ordered 20 witnesses to testify in a case over former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's hospital stay following his return from exile. Thaksin, 75, returned to Thailand in August 2023 after more than a decade in exile and was sentenced to eight years in prison on graft-related charges. He was sent to a detention facility but quickly moved to a private room in a police hospital due to health issues, sparking public speculation that he was being given special treatment. The Supreme Court's criminal division for holders of political positions is investigating whether he served his sentence properly, and today summoned witnesses including doctors from the department of corrections to appear next month. Winyat Chatmontree, head of Thaksin's legal team, said the dates could clash with a separate criminal trial on lese-majeste charges over comments the former premier made to South Korean media a decade ago, which is also set to begin next month. The Supreme Court refused his request to reschedule its hearings. Former Manchester City owner Thaksin, ousted in a 2006 coup, returned to Thailand on the same day the Pheu Thai Party, led by his daughter Paetongtarn, formed a coalition government, fuelling speculation of a political deal. He spent around six months in the Police General Hospital before being pardoned by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and freed on parole. The legal developments come as the government faces a border dispute with Cambodia and internal tensions within its coalition. Thaksin remains popular among his support base but is strongly opposed by the country's royalist and military establishment.
Reuters
a day ago
- Health
- Reuters
Thai court to hear Thaksin hospitalisation case in July; could potentially re-sentence ex-PM
BANGKOK, June 13 (Reuters) - Thailand's Supreme Court will hold hearings in July over the legitimacy of the prolonged hospital stay of influential former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in lieu of prison, and it could potentially send him back to jail. Friday's hearing came a day after Thailand's medical council upheld its decision to punish three doctors who allowed the 75-year-old tycoon to avoid jail, with the court requesting the medical council's resolution to be submitted to its hearing. Although Thaksin does not hold a formal role in government, he remains highly influential and is seen as the power behind the ruling Pheu Thai party, which is led by his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The mounting challenges against the ex-premier, who is also currently on bail for a separate case of insulting the monarchy, have put more uncertainty around a government already besieged by a faltering economy and a border crisis with Cambodia. The controversial billionaire former premier was sent to jail after his dramatic homecoming from self-exile in 2023 to serve a sentence of eight years for abuse of power and conflicts of interest. The sentence was reduced to one year by the King. During his first night in prison, he was transferred to a police hospital after complaining of chest pains. Thaksin remained in the hospital's VIP ward for six months until he was released on parole. His prolonged stay has sparked public outrage and raised questions over his ailment. The court on Friday summoned 20 witnesses to appear at its hearings, including a former corrections department head and physicians who treated Thaksin, as well as his medical records. Thaksin will be able to call his own witnesses at the hearings. The panel of five judges set six sitting days next month to hear the case, with the first on July 4 and the last on July 30. The court said Thaksin was not required to appear at the proceedings. "The truth is he was sick and he has completely served his sentence," Thaksin's lawyer, Winyat Chartmontri, told reporters outside the courthouse. "The medical council never said Thaksin was not sick, the question was whether his conditions were critical or not," Winyat said when asked about the medical tribunal's decision.
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Thai panel upholds suspension of doctors who helped Thaksin dodge jail
Thaksin Shinawatra remains a towering figure in Thai politics and is highly influential. (AFP pic) 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, but 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 a single night in jail, prompting 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, with the possibility the tycoon could be made to serve that time again, in prison. Thaksin, 75, remains a towering figure in Thai politics and 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 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 a year by the king and 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 had yet to confirm the duration of the suspension of the two doctors, who it found had issued documents that contained false medical information. They had denied wrongdoing and stood by their medical assessments. Another doctor with the corrections department received a warning for failing to meet medical standards in a referral notice for Thaksin.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Health
- Reuters
Thai panel upholds suspension of doctors who helped ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra dodge jail
BANGKOK, June 12 (Reuters) - 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, but 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 a single night in jail, prompting 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, with the possibility the tycoon could be made to serve that time again, in prison. Thaksin, 75, remains a towering figure in Thai politics and 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 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 a year by the king and 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 had yet to confirm the duration of the suspension of the two doctors, who it found had issued documents that contained false medical information. They had denied wrongdoing and stood by their medical assessments. Another doctor with the corrections department received a warning for failing to meet medical standards in a referral notice for Thaksin.
