Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has submitted a request for a royal pardon, the outgoing justice minister said, just over a week after his dramatic return to the country from more than 15 years in self-exile.
Thaksin, the head of a famed political dynasty, was prime minister from 2001 until he was ousted in a military coup in 2006. He returned to Thailand briefly in 2008 before fleeing the country over a corruption conviction.
Outgoing Justice Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam confirmed to reporters Thursday that he had received Thaksin's letter requesting a royal pardon from King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Wissanu, a veteran survivor of Thailand's febrile politics who has served in government both under Thaksin and with subsequent military juntas, said the royal pardon request will proceed accordingly and "will be processed in accordance with the rules."
"It is all up to His Majesty's kindness," he said.
Following his prolonged self-imposed exile, Thaksin, 74, flew back to Thailand in a private jet on August 22, where he was met in Bangkok by his family and supporters.
He was taken into custody and sentenced by the Supreme Court to eight years in prison for conflict of interest, abuse of power and corruption during his time in power. Thaksin was found guilty of the charges in absentia during his exile.
Following a medical check-up, Thaksin was taken to prison but the following day was transferred to hospital due to chest tightness, high blood pressure and low oxygen levels, according to the Thai Corrections Department, which said his underlying heart disease could not be treated at a prison hospital and that he would need specialist care.
The likelihood of Thaksin seeing the inside of a jail cell for now is small, analysts have said.
Hours after his arrival in Thailand, parliament chose Srettha Thavisin of the populist Pheu Thai party to be the country's 30th prime minister.
To secure the needed parliamentary votes, Pheu Thai had entered into a coalition with two military-backed parties linked to the military junta that toppled Pheu Thai's democratically elected government, led by Thaksin's sister Yingluck Shinawatra, nearly a decade ago.
Pheu Thai is the latest party of the powerful Shinawatra political dynasty founded by Thaksin that has been a dominating force in Thai politics for 20 years.
Some analysts believe Thaksin may have struck a deal with the country's powerful conservative and royalist establishment for his return -- given his court convictions and the charges against him -- in exchange for a reduced jail term, lenient treatment, or a possible pardon.
However, Thaksin has reportedly denied making such an arrangement.
It is unclear how long the application process for a royal pardon will take. In Thailand, prisoners can request a royal pardon through the justice minister, who passes the application to the prime minister and then on the the King for final approval.
The caretaker government, led by outgoing prime minister and 2014 coup leader Prayut Chan-o-cha, only has a few weeks left in power before the new government -- and new prime minister and Thaksin ally Srettha - is sworn in.
A divisive figure, Thaksin is a billionaire telecommunications mogul who built his political power on policies popular with Thailand's rural poor, who made up the majority of the country's population. But his policies were anathema to the country's rich elites and conservatives who accused Thaksin of being a dangerous and corrupt populist.
