Thailand's highest court has made a pivotal decision, requiring former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to serve a full year in prison. This ruling delved into alleged procedural flaws regarding how corrections officials managed his custody after his return to Thailand in 2023. Thaksin, age 74, faces this consequence following a royal pardon that had previously reduced his eight-year sentence from various corruption charges to just one year.

The former leader, who had been living in self-imposed exile for 15 years, was immediately detained upon his return. However, due to health issues reported as chest pain and hypertension, he was quickly moved to a police hospital. According to officials, his six-month hospital stay and subsequent parole in February 2024 were justified given his age and chronic health conditions. However, this special treatment sparked controversy, with critics arguing it undermined the principle of equality before the law.

The Supreme Court's scrutiny revealed that Thaksin's time in the hospital did not meet the standard requirements for serving a prison sentence. This insight led to the order for him to be incarcerated in Klong Prem Central Prison to fulfill his pending one-year term. Upon his transfer, Thaksin expressed a resigned acceptance of the court's decision, emphasizing his continued mental liberty to think about the country's welfare despite physical confinement.

This legal twist is just the latest in a series of challenges facing the influential Shinawatra family. Notably, Thaksin's daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, also a former prime minister, was ousted from office following a controversial interaction with a foreign political figure, which coincided with violent border disputes.

The unfolding legal and political drama surrounding the Shinawatra family continues to polarize Thailand. Thaksin himself remains a figure of significant controversy, heralded by some as a champion for rural progress while denounced by others for alleged corruption and cronyism during his tenure. As Thaksin starts his prison term, the nation watches closely, pondering the implications for justice and equality in Thailand's turbulent political arena.