Freeing Thaksin is in accordance with the law, says Thai justice minister

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra greets his supporters after landing upon return from self-exil at Bangkok's Don Mueang airport on August 22, 2023. Jailed former Thai prime minister Thaksin is to be freed on Sunday, confirmed the Thai govt on Saturday (Feb 17, 2024). - AFP

BANGKOK (AFP): Jailed former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra will be freed on Sunday, the kingdom's prime minister has said, just six months after returning 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 graft and abuse-of-power charges upon his return to Thailand in August, but within days had his sentence cut to one year by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.