Can Thaksin secure a pardon? – The Bangkok Post

Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted as prime minister in a 2006 coup and now lives in exile, has recently been expressing his wish to return to Thailand.Thaksin Shinawatra During an online chat hosted by the Care group on social app Clubhouse last week, the 72-year-old once again discussed ending his self-imposed expulsion and returning to his homeland as “a gift for Thais”. However, Thaksin faces a total of 12 years in prison over corruption and abuse-of-power convictions stemming from his two terms as premier, prompting speculation that Thaksin, known as Tony Woodsome on Clubhouse, is aiming to secure a pardon as a ticket home. Is it possible to seek a retrial? According to Phetchawat Wattanapongsirikul, a list-MP for the Puea Chat Party, the party’s legal team was studying two paths that could get Thaksin home: a retrial of the cases against him under the 1983 Retrial of Criminal Case Act and submission of a public-sponsored draft law to secure amnesty for the ex-premier. Nipit Intarasomba, former deputy leader of the Democrat Party, said a retrial could be granted if fresh evidence and facts emerge, which was unlikely or Thaksin and his legal advisers would have already used this path. Can…
Read More