Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole on Sunday, just six months after he was arrested following a dramatic return to the kingdom from 15 years of self-imposed exile. The controversial billionaire, twice elected premier and ousted in a 2006 military coup, was jailed for eight years on abuse-of-power and graft charges upon his return in August. But his sentence was cut to one year by King Maha Vajiralongkorn within days of his return and the government announced last week that the 74-year-old was eligible for early release because of his age and health. Thaksin \u2014 wearing a neck brace and sitting next to his daughters Paeton\u00adgtarn and Pintongta \u2014 was driven away on Sunday from the police hospital in central Bangkok where he had spent the past six months. A handful of people protesting against his release had gathered in front of the hospital. The car then drove to Thaksin\u2019s home, where a welcome banner was tied a cross the gates. One woman wearing a T-shirt with a picture of Thaksin emblazoned across the front said she had stood outside his house for two days. \u201cI want to tell him to fight,\u201d she told local media. \u201cIf he is (here), the country will develop.\u201d Thaksin may be subject to monitoring \u2014 possibly with an ankle tag \u2014 and restrictions on his right to travel. Thailand\u2019s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin suggested on Sunday that Thaksin would not involve himself in politics but said, if and when he is ready to give advice, \u201ceveryone in the government is ready to listen\u201d. Thaksin\u2019s daughter Paetongtarn posted a picture on Instagram of him sitting in front of a swimming pool at his home, his arm in a sling, on Sunday. \u201cAfter no fresh air and sunlight for 180 days and 17 years away from home, Dad sits outside for a long time,\u201d she wrote. The former Manchester City owner\u2019s arrival back in Thailand came on the same day his Pheu Thai party returned to government in alliance with pro-military parties, leading many to conclude that a backroom deal had been struck to cut his jail time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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