Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released from a Bangkok prison on Monday after serving eight months of a one-year sentence for a corruption-related charge. Hundreds of supporters, including family and political allies, greeted him outside Klong Prem Central Prison, chanting 'We love Thaksin.'

Thaksin, 76, walked out at about 7:40 a.m. local time, with closely cropped hair and a simple white shirt. He smiled and waved but did not speak to reporters. He served as prime minister from 2001 until a military coup in 2006, then spent 15 years in self-exile.

He returned to Thailand in 2023 to face an eight-year sentence for conflicts of interest and abuse of power, later commuted to one year by the king. However, he spent only hours in prison before complaining of chest pains and was hospitalized for six months in a VIP wing, then released on parole.

In September, the Supreme Court ruled that Thaksin and his doctors had intentionally prolonged his hospital stay with unnecessary surgeries. A Justice Ministry panel granted parole last month, citing good behavior, age, and low risk of re-offending. He must wear an electronic ankle monitor for the remainder of his sentence.

Thaksin's Pheu Thai Party, which slipped to third place in February elections, joined the governing coalition of conservative Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. His nephew, Yodchanan Wongsawat, was appointed minister of higher education.

Source: www.aljazeera.com