(Bangkok, 22nd) — The Thai Department of Corrections reported that former Prime Minister Thaksin, currently serving his sentence in prison, was sent to the Corrections Department Hospital for a checkup due to symptoms such as fatigue and body aches caused by cervical spondylosis, but was not kept overnight.
According to the Bangkok Post, the Department of Corrections announced on Sunday (September 21) that Thaksin felt unwell on Friday (19th) and received medical attention at the Corrections Department Hospital near the prison. However, as there was no specialist doctor available that day, the Department arranged for a specialist to examine Thaksin at Bangkok’s Klong Prem Prison on Monday (22nd).
The Department emphasized that this hospital visit was due to Thaksin’s chronic illness and advanced age. Authorities said that after discovering his discomfort, they handled the case according to the standard procedures for inmates, and no special privileges were provided.
Thaksin’s daughter, Paetongtarn, herself a former prime minister of Thailand, told media after visiting the prison on Friday that the family only spoke to Thaksin for 15 minutes that day because his health was poor. He was suffering from high blood pressure, hair loss, and sleep problems, so the visit was short.
Now 76, Thaksin ended his 15-year exile and returned to Thailand in August 2023, where he was immediately sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption and abuse of power. However, on his first day in jail, he was transferred to the Police General Hospital for treatment. He later received a royal pardon that reduced his sentence to one year. After six months in hospital, Thaksin was granted parole in February last year. During this time, he never spent a single night in prison.
On September 9 this year, Thailand’s Supreme Court ruled that Thaksin's time in hospital could not be counted as part of his sentence and ordered him to serve another year in prison.
According to the Bangkok Post, the Department of Corrections announced on Sunday (September 21) that Thaksin felt unwell on Friday (19th) and received medical attention at the Corrections Department Hospital near the prison. However, as there was no specialist doctor available that day, the Department arranged for a specialist to examine Thaksin at Bangkok’s Klong Prem Prison on Monday (22nd).
The Department emphasized that this hospital visit was due to Thaksin’s chronic illness and advanced age. Authorities said that after discovering his discomfort, they handled the case according to the standard procedures for inmates, and no special privileges were provided.
Thaksin’s daughter, Paetongtarn, herself a former prime minister of Thailand, told media after visiting the prison on Friday that the family only spoke to Thaksin for 15 minutes that day because his health was poor. He was suffering from high blood pressure, hair loss, and sleep problems, so the visit was short.
Now 76, Thaksin ended his 15-year exile and returned to Thailand in August 2023, where he was immediately sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption and abuse of power. However, on his first day in jail, he was transferred to the Police General Hospital for treatment. He later received a royal pardon that reduced his sentence to one year. After six months in hospital, Thaksin was granted parole in February last year. During this time, he never spent a single night in prison.
On September 9 this year, Thailand’s Supreme Court ruled that Thaksin's time in hospital could not be counted as part of his sentence and ordered him to serve another year in prison.