BANGKOK, Thailand: Thailand's Supreme Court ruled that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra must serve a one-year prison sentence linked to earlier convictions, reigniting debate over his treatment by the justice system and the political influence of his powerful family. 

The ruling came amid an investigation into whether officials improperly handled Thaksin's high-profile return to Thailand in 2023 after more than 15 years in self-imposed exile.

When Thaksin arrived back in Bangkok last August, he was swiftly sentenced to eight years in prison on corruption and abuse-of-power charges dating back to his time in office. Yet his time behind bars lasted less than a day. 

Citing health concerns, officials moved him almost immediately to a private suite at Bangkok's Police General Hospital, where he remained for six months. His sentence was later reduced to one year by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, and he was released on parole without ever leaving the hospital.

The episode provoked widespread suspicion. Many critics questioned whether Thaksin had received privileged treatment due to his wealth and influence, and whether his medical condition justified the unusual arrangements. 

Speaking outside the courthouse following the latest ruling, his daughter and political heir, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, defended her father, noting that despite "the good he has done for the country," he remains the only Thai prime minister ever to be jailed. She voiced concern over his health, warning that a return to prison could endanger his fragile condition.

Thaksin first swept to power in 2001 on a populist platform that reshaped Thai politics. He was re-elected in 2005, but his second term was cut short by a military coup the following year, sending him into exile. 

From abroad, he continued to wield influence, often through his family and the political parties aligned with him. Both he and his younger sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, were ultimately toppled by military interventions in 2006 and 2014, respectively.

His return to Thailand in 2023 appeared to mark a turning point, but his legal troubles have persisted. Just last month, a royal defamation case against him was dismissed due to insufficient evidence. That charge, which carried a possible 15-year prison sentence, stemmed from a 2015 media interview he gave while abroad and was brought forward by the country's conservative military establishment.

The Shinawatra dynasty is now facing one of its most turbulent periods. Only days before the court ruling, Thaksin's daughter Paetongtarn was ousted from the premiership by a judicial decision, making her the sixth Shinawatra-linked leader to be removed either by courts or military power. Her government collapsed in chaos, paving the way for rival politician Anutin Charnvirakul to be elected prime minister, a significant blow to the once-dominant Pheu Thai Party.