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Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was airlifted from prison early on Wednesday morning to Police General Hospital in Bangkok after becoming ill just 12 hours after being admitted to the medical wing of Bangkok’s Remand Prison on Tuesday. Thaksin flies in, is whisked away to prison - Thai Examiner

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Thaksin helicoptered to Police Hospital at 3am after feeling ill say Department of Corrections
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Tuesday marked the end of an era in Thailand as the former premier ended his extended period in exile since 2008 and even before that, from 2006 on the same day as his political party saw its nominee elected as Thailand's 30th Prime Minister. The kingdom's most famous inmate, now housed at Bangkok Remand Prison, ended the day in a private room at a medical ward under 24-hour medical care as he began an eight-year prison sentence which many expect will be a lot shorter than that but, as the last 100 days since the May 14th General Election show, nothing is ever as predictable in Thailand as it is in other countries.

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was airlifted from prison early on Wednesday morningto Police General Hospital in Bangkok after becoming ill just 12 hours after being admitted to the medical wing of Bangkok's Remand Prison on Tuesday. The former PM is reported to have had difficulty sleeping and appeared to be suffering unease.

The news came through at 3 am and the incident was reported to have occurred at 12.30 am on Wednesdaywith Mr Thaksin suffering from high blood pressure according to the Governor of Bangkok Remand Prison Nastee Thongplad.

Tuesday was a historic day in Thailand which saw the imprisonment of one of the country's greatest Prime Ministers, Thaksin Shinawatra, a divisive figure who had dominated the country's politics for two decades.

Mr Thaksin was sent to prison on Tuesday morningby order of the Supreme Court to serve 8 years in respect of three finalised convictions and was later admitted to Bangkok Remand Prison where on Tuesday night he was reported to be staying in a monitored room at the medical wing of the establishment without air conditioning but with limited online connectivity to keep in touch with family and friends.

The former PM is now reported to be preparing to file a petition to Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn for a Royal pardon, a process which could take one to two months.

thaksin-flies-in-is-whisked-away-to-prison-historic-day
Former Thai Prime Minister, from 2001 to 2006, Thaksin Shinawatra, was seen at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok on Tuesday morning after his arrest on the tarmac when his private jet touched down. He was greeted by well-wishers who came out to cheer him on. Later in the morning, after being whisked off to appear before the Supreme Court in the Sanam Luang area of the capital, he was taken to Bangkok Remand Prison, where he was admitted to a medical ward before lunchtime as he began an eight-year prison sentence for abuse of power, fraud and corruption.

Tuesday morning saw the historic return of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to Thailand.

74-year-old Mr Thaksin arrived shortly after 9 amon a flight from Singapore on a private jet together with his son Panthongtae 'Oak' Shinawatra and other close members of the family. 

He was met at the airport by his daughter and Pheu Thai Party prime ministerial nominee Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Charismatic PM was, as always, dressed smartly as he made history on Tuesday. Acclaimed by supporters among the public, he paid homage to the King

The former prime minister, a charismatic figure, was dressed smartly in a blue suit with a white shirt and pink tie and greeted the crowds before he paid his respects by bowing and praying before a garlanded picture of the Thai monarch, His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Thaksin was arrested as he emerged from his large private jet on the airport tarmac by Police Colonel Komwut Jong Boonwattana, the Superintendent of Immigration for Bangkok Airport Immigration Division Two.

Police Colonel Komwut executed several warrants against the former prime minister including three related to completed legal proceedings for which he had been sentenced to 10 years in prison and also, it was reported, two warrants in connection with offences under Article 112 of the Criminal Code which also specified various terrorism-related offences.

These latter two warrants were a surprise and we await further details.

Arrested as he got off the plane. Two surprise warrants related to alleged Article 112 and terrorism offences. Supporters cheered his motorcade to court

Mr Thaksin was taken quickly from the airport in a police motorcade to the Sanam Luang area of the capital where sparse crowds lined the route, some of them dressed in red shirts and showing their support of the former prime minister who was seen as the figurehead in the struggle against military rule in the kingdom since the September 2006 coup d'état which outside him from power, up to this year's General Election.

The election aftermath has seen the unlikely formation of a government coalition which sees the Pheu Thai Party, associated with Mr Thaksin, coalescing with parties associated with the military junta in a move which has alienated many of Mr Thaksin's diehard supporters and left the party that won the May 14th General Election, Move Forward, in opposition. 

The atmosphere at the airport on Tuesday morningwas one of excitement with the hurly-burly of enthusiastic supporters among the public and a huge press contingent.

Thailand had waited 15 years to see this homecoming.

Tuesday's return the real thing after 15 years

Mr Thaksin returned to Thailand in 2008, two years after the 2006 military coup, but Tuesday's arrival was seen as a more historic and conclusive event, particularly given the old age of the political figure, his stated desire to be with his family and grandchildren and the need in the kingdom to see a resolution to the political division that has caused severe harm to Thailand's economy since 2006.

Mr Thaksin appeared before the Supreme Court Criminal Division of Persons Holding Political Positions shortly after 10 am, during which details of the convictions against him were outlined to the hearing after Mr Thaksin had confirmed that he was the person identified in the three arrest warrants.

One of the convictions related to a loan provided to the government of Myanmar for ฿4 billion in 2004 by the Export-Import Bank of Thailand (Exim), a state-owned institution, when Thaksin was Prime Minister.

This money was subsequently used to purchase materials and equipment from Shin Satellite PLC, a company owned by Mr Thaksin and his family. 

The prison term was three years in this case.

Two-year prison system for operating a national lottery without any legislation from 2003 to 2006 with five years for telecoms franchise corruption case

The second, the court heard, was a prison sentence of two years against the former premier. 

Mr Thaksin was convicted for operating a nationwide lottery from 2003 to 2006 without the support of appropriate legislation, which was considered a corruption offence and led to a subsequent conviction.

The most serious case related to granting telephone concessions to companies controlled by Mr Thaksin's family Shin Corp, which were acts adjudged to be offences under the Organic Act for Counter-Corruption.

The conviction saw Thaksin receive a five-year prison sentence.

This court, on Tuesday, declared that Mr Thaksin should serve three years in total for the first two offences followed by the third term which would see the former government leader in prison for eight years.

Thaksin taken to Bangkok Remand Prison, he was admitted in time for lunch and ended up in the medical facility with a private room with no air con

At 10.40 am, Mr Thaksin's motorcade was whisked inside the Bangkok Remand Prison and he was taken through the prison admission process in which he passed through three different barriers leading to him being fingerprinted and having his photographs taken.

Reports from officers involved in the operation suggest that Mr Thaksin showed no sign of stress and talked politely with officials.

He was then taken to the medical facility at the prison where he was housed in a room within Zone Seven on the second floor of the building apart from other prisoners.

After his admission, Thaksin had been the subject of an extensive physical examination which together with documentation supplied by his doctors and medical institutions in Dubai, identified that the older prisoner suffered from four underlying medical health issues including heart disease, a lung ailment reported to be chronic pneumonia, high blood pressure and a condition known as spondylosis which involves the degeneration of the bones and discs near the spine area of the body.

Acting Minister of Justice Wissanu Krea-ngam in a reported visit to the prison as Corrections Department and ministry officials gave a press conference 

During Mr Thaksin's admission to prison and his arrival at the medical facility, it is understood that the acting Minister of Justice, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, visited the prison and brought with him documentation. 

It is not yet clear whether the Justice Minister met personally with Mr Thaksin but there are reports that Mr Wissanu changed cars on his trip to the prison as a security precaution.

At 1.30 pm, officials from the Ministry of Justice together with officials within the Department of Corrections including the Director of the Corrections Department, Mr Ayut Sinthopphan, gave more extensive details on Mr Thaksin's incarceration on Tuesday.

They confirmed that he was being housed in Zone Seven on the second floor of the medical building within Bangkok Remand Prison where inmates are supervised with CCTV cameras as well as round-the-clock monitoring by doctors and physicians.

No family visitors for five days but limited internet access as doctors at the prison medical facility make Thaksin's health a priority as an inmate

Reporters were told that management at the prison was concerned that Mr Thaksin's health was preserved and that he was receiving the appropriate care including accommodation.

It was revealed that Thaksin's private room does not have air conditioning but did contain a few fans while an area had been reserved for him to meet visitors who are expected after an initial five-day period for medical screenings during which the former PM has limited online access through two or three popular apps to make contact with his family and friends.

Reporters heard that Thaksin took lunch at the prison on Tuesday but only ate some bread and drank some bottled water. 

Dinner at the prison on Tuesday evening was to consist of boiled rice and vegetables.

Officials explained that Mr Thaksin would have access to the prison shop where he would have a daily allowance of between ฿500 and ฿600 baht to buy various products including food products form a carefully selected range to offer a low sodium diet.

Reports of a possible change of hospital as Thaksin prepares to submit a petition for a Royal pardon a process that normally takes one to two months

On Tuesday, there were some reports that Mr Thaksin, at some point in the future, could be removed from the prison hospital to hospitals that are associated with the Corrections Department under the auspices of the Ministry for Public Health including the Police Hospital in Bangkok.

Sources also reported that Mr Thaksin is anxious to submit a petition seeking a royal pardon as soon as possible.

This normally takes a period of one to two months to be processed but can be made from the first day in prison in respect of fully finalised cases.

In the course of the press conference given by the Department of Corrections and the Ministry of Justice on Tuesday, it was explained that normally such applications are prepared by the prisoner and relatives before they are submitted by the prison to the Department of Corrections.

From hence, they are sent to the Ministry of Justice and then to the Privy Council before being considered by the King. 

If refused, Thaksin must wait two more years

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the acting Minister for Justice Mr Wissanu Krea-ngam explained that if Mr Thaksin's individual request for a pardon is not approved, he would be prohibited from making a similar request for two years. 

At the beginning of the day's events, Mr Thaksin was seen off at Singapore's Changi Airport by his sister and former Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, who posted a poignant note after his plane had taken off for the Thai capital.

Ms Yingluck had accompanied Mr Thaksin to Singapore and it is believed, has lived in close proximity to her brother since she fled Thailand herself into exile in August 2007, some weeks before a court handed down a five-year prison sentence for her role in Thailand's disastrous right pledging initiative, a signature policy of her government which was in power from 2011 to 2014. 

Sad and poignant message from Thaksin's beloved younger sister and Thailand's first female PM after he flew from Singapore on his return to Thailand

'Now the day you have been waiting for has come,' Yingluck wrote in her message. 'Throughout the 17 years, I know you have been lonely, unhappy and homesick. I believe it took you quite a long time to make this decision. You want to be with family and spend your life in your home country. I respect your strong determination. I will keep in my memory our trip together from Dubai until you departed on a plane back to Thailand.'

The former prime minister thanked her brother for his support during her six years in exile and noted that it was one of the first times in that period that they had not travelled together. 

Ms Yingluck and Mr Thaksin were recently seen on trips to Hong Kong and Cambodia with both attending birthday celebrations for Cambodia's former Prime Minister and strongman Hun Sen, a move that drew criticism from liberal political quarters in Thailand. 

'I wish you good luck and a safe journey. Do not forget to take care of your health. Do not worry about me. I will be strong and patient. I will look after myself, although I will be alone in a foreign land,' Ms Yingluck said. 'You have taken good care of me. I cannot help feeling sad because this is the first time we are not travelling together. Good luck my brother.'

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Further reading:

Police concerned for Thaksin's safety on Tuesday after he lands at Don Mueang and is arrested

Fears of political betrayal abound as Thaksin plans to touchdown at Don Mueang Airport on Tuesday

Thaksin and Pheu Thai have burned their bridges with its national 'family' and loyal support base

Chuwit says General Prawit Wongsuwan will be Thailand's Prime Minister at the end of August

Political crisis deepens as Court takes up petition, voting on PM off until at least August 16th next

Pheu Thai gives Move Forward the boot, promises a new Constitution and another General Election

Fate of Thaksin linked to political fate of the kingdom as Chuwit predicts his return deal is off at this time

Fears grow that Thaksin has become a pawn for conservatives to break the 8 party democratic pact

Prime Minister, business leaders oppose strategy to countdown the clock on the Senate's power

PM votes suspended indefinitely as Constitutional Court asked to review last vote in parliament

Pheu Thai meets Anutin as Move Forward's Pita turns up the pressure on its conflicted leaders

Former police chief and political leader says Move Forward must sacrifice itself for the country

Anutin waits for the call from Pheu Thai but will not treat with Move Forward over its policies

Pheu Thai to install Srettha as Prime Minister by forming a coalition pact with government parties

Pita suspended as an MP and loses renomination attempt in parliament as Senate blocks his path

Tide going out in parliament for Move Forward as it faces being axed or sidelined from real power

US expresses concern about the democratic 'will of the people' as tension mounts over legal case

Senators to the fore as tide favours a conservative fix to install a more mature next government

Thailand is facing a deep political crisis as Pita loses key vote and top court takes up complaints

Plan is to rally parliament behind the people's will to elect Pita Limjaroenrat as Prime Minister

Move Forward leader says Pita will be PM despite the rumour mill and some vociferous senators on the right

Pheu Thai may face a terrible dilemma as outgoing government parties still aim for power in PM vote

Wan Noor elected unopposed as House Speaker, Move Forward Party nominee for deputy wins vote

King and Queen open parliament amid uncertainty as to Tuesday's vote on the Speaker of the House

Breakthrough deal could see either Pita or Srettha take job as Thailand's 30th PM on July 13th

PM's soothing words for frayed nerves as he says he will continue his role up to the next cabinet

Baht falls to 7-month low as unease grows over chances of Pita Limjaroenrat being elected as PM

New PM in July a turning point for the Thai economy in 2023 which could still see 4% GDP growth recorded

Pita's election as PM and political certainty would be a green light for new jobs and investment

79 new MPs face scrutiny as Election Commission says only 321 to be declared elected on June 21st

Way cleared for Pita's election as PM but seeds sown for political conflict with criminal probe under poll law

Dangerous political flux in the aftermath of the General Election is growing and poses a threat

Pita shares cast a pall over historic May 14th Election, fears that the results may be nullified by a court

Compromise mooted between Pheu Thai and Move Forward on House Speaker job before key meeting

Kooky Palang Pracharat reports rejected on Tuesday by Prawit as Pheu Thai stands by Pita for PM

Move Forward's 'Government of Hope' coalition delivers a programme promising a new charter

Jatuporn warns Pheu Thai may be turned as he predicts a political impasse. Should wait for 2024

Election vote for Move Forward may have been a cry for help from voters mired in short-term debt

Pita, Move Forward and eight other parties meet in Bangkok and come out smiling, ready to govern

Pita plots a new coalition government with Pheu Thai but open conflict has already raised its head in the Senate

Move Forward Party's good election result leaves uncertainty as to who will form the government

Read 

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