NEW DELHI: Former Thai Premier
Thaksin Shinawatra
, who has been in
detention
since August, is set to be released from hospital on Sunday, according to Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
Thaksin was granted
parole
earlier this week.
A billionaire political figure, Thaksin had returned to Thailand after 15 years in self-exile to avoid imprisonment for a conflict of interest.
His eight-year jail term was reduced to one year by the King upon his return, and he has spent the past six months in hospital detention due to an undisclosed health condition.
Talking about the release, Prime Minister Srettha told reporters that, "it will be on the 18th" and "everything would be in accordance to the law."
However, Thaksin may still face legal challenges, as public prosecutors are contemplating charging him for insulting the monarchy during a 2015 media interview, according to a Reuters report.
Thaksin's return last year coincided with the appointment of Srettha as prime minister, leading to speculation of a possible deal between Thaksin and his opponents in Thailand's royalist-military establishment. Thaksin's allies, along with the Shinawatra-backed Pheu Thai Party, have dismissed these claims.
(With inputs from agencies)
English (US) ·