BANGKOK – The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that Thaksin Shinawatra submitted a request for an individual royal pardon after entering prison. The ministry has processed the petition and moved it forward through the required channels.
Reports state that the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions sentenced Thaksin to one year in prison on 9 September 2025 in case number 14. On 10 September, he filed a petition for an individual royal pardon with the Ministry of Justice.
By 23 September, the ministry, under Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, had completed its part and forwarded the matter to the Secretariat of the Cabinet for further steps.
This took place while the new cabinet was still settling in. The cabinet was appointed on 19 September and took the oath on 24 September. The policy statement to Parliament was scheduled for 29 to 30 September, after which the government would begin work in full.
A senior source at the Ministry of Justice said on 28 September that Thaksin’s request for an individual royal pardon is genuine and that it has already cleared the ministry’s level.
The source explained that an individual royal pardon is a right available to all inmates serving final sentences. They can submit a petition for clemency as an individual case. This is a normal practice. For example, former Bhumjaithai MP Natee Ratchakitprakarn also sought an individual pardon while in prison.
How Thaksin’s individual royal pardon request moves forward:
- The inmate, or a close relative such as a parent, spouse, or child, files the petition through the prison or correctional institution.
- The prison investigates the petition, compiles documents, and sends the file to the Department of Corrections.
- The Department of Corrections reviews the facts and prepares a summary to support the Justice Minister’s opinion.
- The Justice Minister’s opinion goes to the Secretariat of the Cabinet, then to the Privy Council.
- After a royal command on the petition, the result is sent back to the prison or correctional institution.
The ministry source added that once a petition reaches any level, whether the prison, the Department of Corrections, or the Ministry of Justice, it cannot be held back. It must be submitted up the chain.
Each level may state either that a pardon is appropriate or that the sentence remains suitable. Any decision to grant or reduce a sentence rests with the royal prerogative and cannot be interfered with.
Some have asked whether a prisoner can apply more than once. Thaksin previously sought an individual royal pardon in August 2023, when he re-entered the justice system. His original total sentence was eight years, which was reduced to one year.
About Thaksin Shinawatra
There may be confusion because he had been serving that sentence, including while receiving medical care at the Police General Hospital, and did not leave the approved location. After the Supreme Court’s new ruling requiring him to serve one year, he filed again.
The exact grounds in the latest petition have not been disclosed, and the reasons a petitioner offers can differ each time. In general, inmates explain their circumstances and set out why they are seeking clemency at that point.
Thaksin Shinawatra, born on 26 July 1949, is a divisive Thai politician and businessman who served as Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006. He founded the Thai Rak Thai Party and gained momentum with populist pledges, including universal healthcare and rural development schemes.
These policies built strong backing among rural voters. His track record in business, including the creation of Shin Corporation, helped shape his image as a modern reformer in Thai politics.
His time in office drew fierce criticism as well. Allegations of corruption, abuse of power, and pressure on the media sparked protests and political turmoil. A military coup removed him in 2006, and he spent years abroad to avoid corruption cases.
He returned to Thailand in 2023 and still holds sway. His family and allies, particularly within the Pheu Thai Party, continue to steer Thai politics. His legacy splits opinion, mixing populist reform with controversy, and it keeps debate alive across the country.
