There are reports that former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, after receiving a royal pardon from King Maha Vajiralongkorn, is expected to return to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where he resided during his years in exile.
According to Bloomberg, citing informed sources, once the authorities complete the relevant paperwork confirming the formal end of Thaksin’s prison term and remove the electronic monitoring device he wore during parole, he is expected to immediately board a private jet bound for Dubai.
Thai online media outlet "101 World" was the first to report the news.
According to information published this week in Thailand's Royal Gazette, coinciding with Queen Suthida's 48th birthday celebration on June 3, the King issued a pardon granting sentence reductions or parole for thousands of prisoners.
Thailand’s Minister of Justice, Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, confirmed that Thaksin was among those eligible and received the royal pardon. This pardon not only waives his remaining prison term but also lifts the travel restrictions he had faced since his return to Thailand in 2023.
Thaksin was granted parole and released from prison on May 11, with his remaining sentence originally set to expire on September 9.
In 2006, the Thai military staged a coup that overthrew Thaksin’s government. To avoid imprisonment, Thaksin left Thailand in 2008, beginning a 15-year period in exile, mainly residing in Dubai.
In August 2023, Thaksin ended his exile by returning to Thailand, where he was later sentenced to eight years in prison for charges of corruption and abuse of power. However, on his first day of imprisonment, he was transferred to the Police General Hospital for treatment and never actually served time in prison.
Following a royal pardon, his sentence was reduced to one year, and he was granted parole in February 2024.
However, on September 9, 2025, Thailand’s Supreme Court ruled that the time Thaksin spent in hospital care could not be counted as part of his prison sentence, and he must therefore serve another year in prison.
Thai online media outlet "101 World" was the first to report the news.
According to information published this week in Thailand's Royal Gazette, coinciding with Queen Suthida's 48th birthday celebration on June 3, the King issued a pardon granting sentence reductions or parole for thousands of prisoners.
Thailand’s Minister of Justice, Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, confirmed that Thaksin was among those eligible and received the royal pardon. This pardon not only waives his remaining prison term but also lifts the travel restrictions he had faced since his return to Thailand in 2023.
Thaksin was granted parole and released from prison on May 11, with his remaining sentence originally set to expire on September 9.
In 2006, the Thai military staged a coup that overthrew Thaksin’s government. To avoid imprisonment, Thaksin left Thailand in 2008, beginning a 15-year period in exile, mainly residing in Dubai.
In August 2023, Thaksin ended his exile by returning to Thailand, where he was later sentenced to eight years in prison for charges of corruption and abuse of power. However, on his first day of imprisonment, he was transferred to the Police General Hospital for treatment and never actually served time in prison.
Following a royal pardon, his sentence was reduced to one year, and he was granted parole in February 2024.
However, on September 9, 2025, Thailand’s Supreme Court ruled that the time Thaksin spent in hospital care could not be counted as part of his prison sentence, and he must therefore serve another year in prison.