Thaksin Shinawatra

Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, has faced numerous allegations and convictions throughout his career. In 2006, he was deposed in a military coup amid mass protests over corruption and abuse of power allegations. He lived in exile for 15 years, returning in 2023. Upon his return, he was sentenced to eight years for corruption and abuse of power, which was later commuted to one year by royal pardon. He spent six months in a hospital suite before receiving parole. In September 2025, the Supreme Court ruled this hospital stay unlawful, determining he was not in critical condition; he was subsequently ordered to serve his one-year sentence in prison. Regarding the Shin Corp share tax case, the Supreme Court ruled in November 2025 that Thaksin must pay 17.6 billion baht in taxes, penalties, and surcharges. The court determined that his family’s 2006 share sale lacked tax morality and was illegal in substance. Thaksin has also faced allegations of failing to declare all his wealth (for which he was acquitted) and criticism regarding a 2003 war on drugs and his handling of southern insurgency violence. In August 2025, he was acquitted of lèse-majesté charges stemming from a 2015 interview, with the court citing weak evidence and potential political bias from witnesses.