Thai court to hear Thaksin hospitalisation case in July

13/6/2025 18:39

Thailand's Supreme Court will hold hearings in July over the legitimacy of the prolonged hospital stay of influential former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in lieu of prison, and it could potentially send him back to jail.



Friday's hearing came a day after Thailand's medical council upheld its decision to punish three doctors who allowed the 75-year-old tycoon to avoid jail, with the court requesting the medical council's resolution to be submitted to its hearing.



Although Thaksin does not hold a formal role in government, he remains highly influential and is seen as the power behind the ruling Pheu Thai party, which is led by his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.



The mounting challenges against the ex-premier, who is also currently on bail for a separate case of insulting the monarchy, have put more uncertainty around a government already besieged by a faltering economy and a border crisis with Cambodia.



The controversial billionaire former premier was sent to jail after his dramatic homecoming from self-exile in 2023 to serve a sentence of eight years for abuse of power and conflicts of interest.