Thailand's top court has ruled that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra must serve a year in jail, in yet another blow to the influential political dynasty.
The decision relates to a previous case where he was sentenced to years in prison for corruption, but ended up spending less than a day in a jail cell as he was moved to a hospital.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled that this transfer was unlawful - and that the 76-year-old would have to serve his sentence in prison.
Thaksin and his family have dominated Thai politics since he was first elected PM in 2001. His daughter Paetongtarn previously served as leader but was removed from office last month over a leaked phone call.
Shortly after the ruling was announced, Thaksin released a statement on social media stating that even though I lose my physical freedom, I will still have freedom of thought for the benefit of my country and its people.
He also vowed to maintain his strength to serve the monarchy, Thailand and its people.
The former PM was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and spent years living in self-imposed exile, mostly in Dubai.
When he returned to Thailand in 2023, he was promptly tried and found guilty of corruption and abuse of power during his time in office and sentenced to eight years in prison.
But Thaksin spent only hours in a jail cell before he complained of heart issues - and was later moved to a luxury wing of Thailand's Police General Hospital.
Following his plea for a royal pardon, the Thai king commuted his sentence to one year.
Thaksin stayed in hospital for six months, then received parole and moved to his home in Bangkok.
On Tuesday, a Supreme Court judge stated that Thaksin knew or could perceive that he was not in a critical or emergency condition.
While Thaksin had underlying chronic medical conditions, he could have been treated as an outpatient, the judge concluded while ruling that the hospital stay was illegal.
The 14th floor case, as it is known in Thailand because of the hospital floor he stayed at, has attracted intense scrutiny.
The handling of the case has led to criticism from many Thais, expressing concern over privilege afforded to the wealthy and powerful.
Prior to Tuesday's ruling, many were closely monitoring Thaksin's movements. Last week he flew out of Thailand in a private jet to Dubai, citing medical treatment needs, before confirming his intention to return for the court hearing.
He appeared in court in Bangkok on Tuesday morning, smiling and greeting supporters. Thaksin wore a suit with a yellow tie, a color associated with Thailand's monarchy.
Paetongtarn expressed concern for her father, stating they were in good spirits following the ruling, and pledged to lead the family's Pheu Thai party forward.
The ruling occurs amidst ongoing political turmoil in Thailand and highlights the shifting dynamics of the Shinawatra clan, which continues to face significant challenges.
In addition to the corruption case ruling, Thaksin had previously faced other legal troubles, including an accusation of insulting the Thai king, which led to an acquittal last month regarding lese-majeste.
Meanwhile, Paetongtarn was removed from her role amid controversy over a leaked phone call with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
This culmination of events illustrates the evolving landscape of Thai politics - the third prime minister in two years was appointed last week amid shifting allegiances within the parliament.
