THE King of Thailand has reduced the prison sentence of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to one year from the previous eight years.
Billionaire businessman Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister of Thailand who lived in self-imposed exile for 15 years, has been granted a shorter jail sentence a day after submitting a royal pardon.
The billionaire businessman initially faced a 12-year sentence before his controversial return to the country earlier this month.
The Supreme Court sentenced him to eight years in prison upon his return to Thailand last week.
His lawyer submitted a royal pardon on behalf of the former prime minister on Thursday.
On Friday, Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn reduced his eight-year prison term to one year.
The decision was published in the Royal Gazette, making it effective immediately.
