Thaksin’s First Prison Visit: Reunion Behind Glass
Ex-PM meets family after quarantine — no contact allowed, prison insists on equal rules
Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand’s 74-year-old former prime minister, has received his first visit in prison after completing five days of mandatory quarantine. The reunion with close family members and his lawyer took place under the strictest conditions — separated by a transparent glass wall.
Quarantine over: monitored visit only
Police Lieutenant Colonel Chen Kanchanapat, deputy director of the Corrections Department, confirmed that Thaksin had completed the standard isolation period imposed on all new inmates. Starting today, visits are permitted — but without physical contact.
“The visits are conducted through a glass partition, and no exceptions are made,” Chen stated. “Thaksin is treated like any other inmate.” Authorities stressed that no special arrangements were offered despite the former leader’s high profile.
Health stable: hypertension under control
Officials also addressed questions about Thaksin’s health. Known for suffering from hypertension, his condition is said to be under control. Due to his age, however, he will be transferred to the prison’s senior ward — a routine measure applied to inmates over 65.
This section of the facility typically provides closer medical supervision and, in many cases, slightly eased conditions compared to the general prison population.
A one-year sentence — with possible extensions
The Supreme Court sentenced Thaksin to one year in prison in connection with an abuse-of-power case dating back to his time in office. Authorities stressed that this sentence had not yet been served during his long self-imposed exile abroad.
Thaksin returned to Thailand on August 22 after 15 years abroad and was immediately taken into custody. While he currently faces a single confirmed year behind bars, observers note that additional legal proceedings could reopen, depending on pending cases.
Behind glass: isolation continues
For now, the former prime minister remains cut off from the outside world. Even his conversations with lawyers and family must take place through the glass barrier — a condition seen by many as a psychological burden.
Still, his transfer to the senior ward is viewed by some analysts as a small concession. Older prisoners are often granted greater access to medical care and monitored activities, offering a marginally softer regime inside the notorious Klong Prem Central Prison.