Thaksin Shinawatra, the ousted prime minister who returned from self-exile, has been sentenced to 8 years in prison for convictions in 3 cases passed on him in absentia.

Thaksin arrived at Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport at around 9 AM after living in self-imposed exile for 17 years since the 2006 military coup.

He showed up in front of a private jet terminal to greet a crowd of ecstatic “Red Shirt” supporters, many of whom traveled overnight from upcountry provinces to welcome him back.

He was then transported to the Supreme Court’s Criminal Case Division for Persons Holding Political Positions to hear court rulings in the 3 cases where he was found guilty and received sentences to serve jail time.

The 3 cases include:

- 3 years for malfeasance in the provision of a 4 billion baht loan from EXIM Bank to Myanmar;

- 2 years for lottery fraud;

- 5 years for the illegal use of nominees to hold Shin Corporation shares.

The total sentence for the former prime minister is ten years. However, the court has ordered that two sentences, namely 3 years for the EXIM bank loan case and 2 years for the lottery fraud case, be served concurrently. Thus, the effective period of his prison time has been reduced to 8 years.

As a result of the court’s final judgement, a warrant to imprison Thaksin has been issued.