Thaksin Shinawatra<\/a><\/span><\/span> has arrived at his mansion in the capital Bangkok after being released on parole.<\/p>\nThe billionaire was freed from a police hospital, where he had been serving a one-year jail sentence for corruption and abuse of power.<\/p>\n
Thaksin, 74, was detained as soon as he returned to Thailand last August from 15 years in self-imposed exile.<\/p>\n
He did not spend a single night in jail after complaining of health problems.<\/p>\n
Thaksin’s original eight-year prison term was commuted to one year by Thailand’s king – just days after he returned from exile.<\/p>\n
The handling of the case has led to criticism from many Thais, who say the rich and powerful are often given privileged treatment.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, Thaksin was seen being driven away from the police hospital in the capital, where he had spent six months.<\/p>\n
The authorities said he was eligible for parole due to his age and health issues.<\/p>\n
They did not say whether he was released under certain conditions such as monitoring or travel curbs.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He left the country in 2008 after being deposed by a coup two years earlier. He spent his exile years mostly in London or Dubai.<\/p>\n
His family’s Pheu Thai party is currently in power in Thailand.<\/p>\n
The former telecoms magnate remains one of the most divisive public figures in the country: loathed by many of Bangkok’s rich elite, but adored by millions of poor rural Thais for his populist policies.<\/p>\n
Thaksin was the first prime minister in Thailand’s history to lead an elected government through a full term in office in 2001-06.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
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