JAKARTA - Thailand's king eased the sentence for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, from eight years in prison to just one year in prison, the royal newspaper said on Friday, a day after the billionaire filed a request for pardon.
Thaksin returned to Thailand last week after self-isolating for 15 years abroad to avoid a prison sentence after he was ousted by the military in 2006.
Thaksin arrived on a private jet and was immediately taken to prison to serve eight years in prison, on charges of abuse of power and conflicts of interest during his tenure.
On the first night, he was transferred to a police hospital due to chest pain and high blood pressure.
Last Thursday, he submitted a request for royal amnesty.
Thaksin "is a prime minister, has done good for his country and people, and is loyal to the monarchy," the kingdom said in a statement on Friday.
"He respects the process, admits his guilt, repents, accepts the court's decision. Currently he is old, suffering from a disease that requires medical professional care," the statement read.
Despite being absent for 15 years, Thaksin remains an influential figure in Thailand's policy with his loyal parties winning every election from 2001 to this year.
His return overshadowed a vote in parliament that appointed political ally Sretta Thavisin of the Shiawatra-backed Pheu Thai Party, as prime minister.
Sretta, a real estate tycoon, received support from pro-military and conservative parties with ties to the same generals that toppled the Thaksin administration in 2006 and 2014.
Thaksin and the Thai Pheu Party have denied speculation the former prime minister has reached an agreement with its competitors, including strong and elite generals.
He is still hospitalized, and authorities have stated the need for advanced specialists and medical equipment for his treatment.
"This is a mercy of His Majesty that shows Thaksin's mercy," the former leader's lawyer, Vinyat Chatmontri, told Reuters, referring to King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
"The Thai people must accept and do not criticize this result because it can be considered a violation of royal power," he added.
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Earlier, Justice Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Thursday Thaksin had applied for a royal amnesty.
It is known that the request for pardon from the kingdom in the country must be submitted through the Correctional Department to the justice minister.
Next, the request will be submitted to the Thai Prime Minister for signature, before being submitted to the King. If the pardon from the King is not granted, the applicant will have to wait two years to submit another request.
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