The ex-prime minister of Thailand returned to his family after 15 years in exile

The former prime minister of Thailand, 74-year-old Thaksin Shinawatra, who was overthrown in a coup d’état in 2006, returned to the country for the first time in 15 years and was taken into custody. This was reported by The Nation.

The former prime minister lived in voluntary exile since 2006. The last time he came to Thailand was in 2008 and appeared before the court. The politician was arrested, but released on bail, after which he finally left the country. The court convicted Chinawat in absentia on a number of charges, including abuse of official powers, tax evasion and corruption.

Shinawatra flew to Bangkok on Tuesday – on this day the parliament gathered to vote on the candidacy of the new Prime Minister Sretta Thavysin, who is supported by Shinawatra’s party “Phya Thai”. Tavysyn eventually received the support of the parliament and became the new prime minister.

At the airport, Chinawata was met by his supporters. Earlier, the youngest daughter of the politician Patongtarn Chinawat said that her father does not intend to engage in politics. However, as noted by The New York Times, many Thai voters do not believe this.

The politician was taken to the Supreme Court, where the sentences handed down in absentia were read to him, after which Chinawat was taken to prison. The media note that the former prime minister will submit a request for pardon, which he can count on due to his advanced age.

Shinawatra served as Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006. In 2006, a group of soldiers led by the commander-in-chief of the ground forces staged a coup while he was at the UN General Assembly in New York.