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Prime Minister Sureta Thavisin said Thaksin will become a “normal citizen” after his release, which is expected to be after February 17.
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was imprisoned in Thailand, is expected to be released.
Thaksin, 74, was jailed for eight years for abuse of power and later had his sentence reduced to one year in a royal pardon, but he was granted parole, Prime Minister Sureta Thavisin told reporters on Tuesday.
“This is official,” Sletta said, stressing that everything was done in accordance with the law. “Once released, he will become a normal citizen. What’s in the past is in the past.”
Thaksin returned to Thailand in August last year after living in exile for more than 14 years, but was immediately put on trial and sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of abuse of power.
After spending the night in prison, Thaksin was taken to the hospital after his blood pressure spiked.
Shortly after, the king pardoned him and reduced his sentence to one year.
Thai media earlier quoted Justice Minister Thawi Sodsun as saying Thaksin was one of 930 prisoners released on parole on Tuesday for age and health reasons, and that he would be released on February 17. It was reported that it is expected to occur later.
Thaksin came to power in 2001 on a populist platform that appealed to Thailand’s rural population, long ignored by the country’s ruling elite. He returned to the presidency in a landslide five years later, but the military soon seized power in a coup.
Thaksin was also accused of serious human rights violations during the violent conflict in the Muslim-majority southern state and a “war on drugs” that left thousands of people dead, but he was later convicted of abuse of power. , mainly in exile in Dubai.
Mr. Suretta is a member of the Thailand Contribution Party, led by Mr. Thaksin’s youngest daughter, Pethunthaan Shinawatra. The Progressive Party formed the government after the general election last May and won the most votes, but was prevented from seizing power by still powerful forces tied to the military and traditional elites.
Mr. Suretta said on Tuesday that Mr. Thaksin was a man who had benefited the country and who could give his daughter “good advice” to “serve the country.”
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