China News Service, February 18 (Zhang Naiyue) On the 18th local time, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was serving his sentence, was released early.

　　He was once a high-profile Thai tycoon and twice served as Prime Minister; he also lived in exile overseas and was jailed after returning home.

　　"It is time for him to spend the rest of his life happily." After learning that his father would be released, Thaksin's daughter and Pheu Thai Party leader Bei Dongtan wrote on social media.

From billionaire to strong-armed prime minister

　　Thaksin Shinawatra was born in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on July 26, 1949. At the age of 24, Thaksin graduated from the Bangkok Police Academy. In this year, he also received a government scholarship to study in the United States, where he obtained a master's degree and a doctorate in criminal justice.

Image data map: Thaksin.

　　In his early years, Thaksin devoted himself to business and achieved great success.

　　In 1982, Thaksin founded Shinawatra Computer Services and Investment Company. Four years later, the Thai government opened the telecommunications industry to private operation, and Shinawatra became the first private telecommunications company to obtain a business license.

　　As his career grew bigger and bigger, Thaksin once ranked among the richest people in Thailand. In the 1990s, Shinawatra Computer Services and Investment Company went public and basically monopolized Thailand's television satellite antenna and mobile phone industries at that time.

　　After achieving success in business, Thaksin began to enter the political arena and served as Thailand's Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

　　In 1998, Thaksin founded the Thai Rak Thai Party and became its chairman. Three years later, this party defeated the established Democratic Party in Thailand’s House of Commons and became the single largest party in Congress.

　　In 2001, Thaksin Shinawatra was elected Prime Minister of Thailand with an overwhelming advantage, becoming the first Prime Minister of Thailand to lead a democratically elected government to complete a full term. He was successfully elected Prime Minister again in 2005.

　　Thaksin's policies were hugely popular among the people. During his tenure, Thaksin led Thailand out of the Asian financial crisis. He also cracked down on drugs, cracked down on gangster forces and other social ills with an iron fist, and took severe measures to deal with the armed separatist movement in southern Thailand.

　　However, in September 2006, the Thai military suddenly launched a coup, and Thaksin was forced to step down and began to live in exile overseas for more than ten years. Since then, although Thaksin has been absent from Thai politics for a long time, he still has considerable influence.

"If you're lucky enough,

I will go back to Thailand”

　　After stepping down due to the military coup, Thaksin has been in exile except for a brief return abroad in 2008. He was accused of corruption in cases including lottery fraud and illegal bank loans.

　　Before leaving Thailand in 2008, Thaksin wrote a note, "If I am lucky enough, I will come back and die on Thai soil."

Picture: On August 22, 2023, Thaksin arrived at Bangkok Airport and met with supporters together with his daughter Bei Dongdan.

　　In August 2023, Thaksin finally ended his exile and arrived at Bangkok Airport on a private plane. Shortly after landing, Thaksin was escorted by the Thai police to the Supreme Court of Thailand to attend the sentencing hearing.

　　According to the ruling of the Supreme Court of Thailand, Thaksin was convicted of multiple crimes and sentenced to 8 years in prison. Within hours of being sentenced, Thaksin was transferred to a hospital for treatment due to poor health. Local media reported that Thaksin suffered from high blood pressure and felt chest tightness and discomfort when he was imprisoned. Thaksin underwent two surgeries during his months in prison, his family said.

　　While Thaksin was serving his sentence, the King of Thailand decided to pardon him and reduced his sentence to one year. In February 2024, Thailand's Minister of Justice Thawi revealed to the media that Thaksin will be paroled that month on the grounds that Thaksin is over 70 years old, suffering from serious illness and has served more than 6 months in prison.

　　Now, Thaksin, who is over seventy years old, has been released, but the turmoil surrounding him does not seem to have subsided.

　　Thaksin may be in legal trouble for comments he made nearly a decade ago that allegedly violated Article 112 of the Penal Code. Although Thaksin has denied the charges and sent a letter to the attorney general demanding fair treatment, it is unclear whether prosecutors will bring the case to court.

　　Thaksin's daughter Bei Dongdan once wished her father "a happy old age." It remains to be seen whether this release will allow Thaksin to take an important step towards a stable old age. (over)