Thaksin Shinawatra: Former Thailand PM jailed after return from exile

Aug 22: Thailand's former PM Thaksin Shinawatra has been jailed upon returning to the country after 15 years in exile.

But many believe he has struck a deal that will keep him from serving more than a short period in prison.

He arrived on Tuesday morning in a private jet, ahead of a vote for the next Thai leader - the frontrunner is from Thaksin's Pheu Thai party.

He has sentences of up to eight years outstanding from criminal cases he says were politically motivated.

Thaksin, Thailand's most successful elected leader, has long been feared by conservative royalists, who have backed military coups and contentious court cases to weaken him.

But now the brash, politically-ambitious telecoms tycoon is back - he landed in Bangkok's main airport to cheers from hundreds of loyal supporters who had gathered overnight to see him. Flanked by his two daughters and son, he emerged briefly from the airport terminal and paid his respects to a portrait of the king and queen.

He was immediately taken to the Supreme Court where he was sentenced to eight years on the outstanding charges, and then to Bangkok Remand Prison. The Department of Corrections has said that he "is safe under the supervision of the staff".

(BBC)