Thaksin gets 8 years’ jail in 3 cases

PHEU THAI Party de facto boss/former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was swiftly taken to the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions at Sanam Luang after his arrival at Don Mueang Airport at 9 a.m. this morning (Aug. 22) where he was sentenced to a total of eight years’ imprisonment in three cases, Sanook.com said.

A large crowd of red shirt supporters had gathered at the court to greet him.

The sentences handed down in the three cases are as follows:

1) Export-Import Bank of Thailand case where Thaksin was accused of malfeasance in the granting of 4-billion-baht loan to Myanmar government – three years’ imprisonment;

2) Two- to three-digit state lottery case where he was accused rushing the scheme thus causing damage to the state – two years’ imprisonment;

3) Shin Corp. nominee case – where he was accused of allowing nominees to hold shares in the family company to gain benefit – five years’ imprisonment.

He was allowed to consecutively serve the jail term in the first two cases with the five-year jail term in the Shin Corp. case to run after that.

Therefore although he was given a total of 10 years in jail (3 + 2 + 5 years), Thaksin will actually be imprisoned for eight years as the first two jail terms run consecutively.

He was then taken to Klong Prem Central Prison where another group of red-shirt followers were waiting to greet him.

CAPTION:

Pheu Thai Party de facto leader Thaksin Shinawatra greeting supporters at Don Mueang Airport and being taken to prison. Top, first and second below: Matichon, further below: AFP/Lillian Suwanrumpha and published by Sanook.com