Thai Media: Thaksin Granted Royal Pardon, Plans to Travel to Dubai
Thai media reported on Thursday that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been granted a royal pardon, fully restoring his freedom, and plans to travel to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
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- 📰 Published: June 4, 2026 at 23:16
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(Central News Agency correspondent Li Zongxian, Bangkok, 4th) Thai media reported on Thursday, citing sources, that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, after being granted a royal pardon and having his remaining sentence commuted, plans to travel to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai was his main residence during his years of exile.
Thai media outlet "101 World" reported on Thursday, citing sources close to Thaksin Shinawatra, that after receiving the royal pardon, he plans to travel immediately to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
According to the report, Thaksin is expected to travel to Dubai by private jet after the relevant administrative procedures are completed. Authorities are currently processing the formal confirmation of the end of his sentence and will remove the electronic monitoring device he was wearing.
Thaksin, 76, had been serving a one-year prison sentence for a corruption case since September 2025 and was granted parole on May 11 of this year. The Thai king granted a pardon to eligible prisoners on the 3rd to celebrate the queen's birthday. Thaksin was included in the pardon list, had his remaining sentence commuted, and was officially restored to freedom.
Thaksin became Prime Minister of Thailand in February 2001. On September 19, 2006, the Thai military staged a coup. Thaksin, who was in New York attending the United Nations General Assembly, was removed from office, and the military took over the administration. During his exile, Thaksin mostly stayed in Dubai.
Thaksin ended his exile in August 2023 and set foot on Thai soil again. He was immediately sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption and abuse of power. Due to poor health, he was transferred to a police hospital to serve his sentence. A few days later, the Thai king commuted his sentence to one year.
Thaksin was granted parole in February 2024 and returned to his residence in Bangkok, having hardly ever been actually imprisoned. In September 2025, the Supreme Court of Thailand ruled that the sentence had not been properly executed and ordered Thaksin to serve one year in prison. (Editor: Chen Huiping) 1150604
Thai media outlet "101 World" reported on Thursday, citing sources close to Thaksin Shinawatra, that after receiving the royal pardon, he plans to travel immediately to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
According to the report, Thaksin is expected to travel to Dubai by private jet after the relevant administrative procedures are completed. Authorities are currently processing the formal confirmation of the end of his sentence and will remove the electronic monitoring device he was wearing.
Thaksin, 76, had been serving a one-year prison sentence for a corruption case since September 2025 and was granted parole on May 11 of this year. The Thai king granted a pardon to eligible prisoners on the 3rd to celebrate the queen's birthday. Thaksin was included in the pardon list, had his remaining sentence commuted, and was officially restored to freedom.
Thaksin became Prime Minister of Thailand in February 2001. On September 19, 2006, the Thai military staged a coup. Thaksin, who was in New York attending the United Nations General Assembly, was removed from office, and the military took over the administration. During his exile, Thaksin mostly stayed in Dubai.
Thaksin ended his exile in August 2023 and set foot on Thai soil again. He was immediately sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption and abuse of power. Due to poor health, he was transferred to a police hospital to serve his sentence. A few days later, the Thai king commuted his sentence to one year.
Thaksin was granted parole in February 2024 and returned to his residence in Bangkok, having hardly ever been actually imprisoned. In September 2025, the Supreme Court of Thailand ruled that the sentence had not been properly executed and ordered Thaksin to serve one year in prison. (Editor: Chen Huiping) 1150604