The plane carrying former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra landed at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok around 3 p.m. today. The former prime minister and his group then immediately boarded a car and left the airport.

Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra appears at Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok on the afternoon of 22/8. Video: Thai PBS

Thaksin returned to Bangkok a day before the Supreme Court is due to rule on whether his 2023-2024 treatment at the Police General Hospital in Bangkok can be counted towards his prison sentence. The court's decision will determine if his hospitalization will be considered part of his sentence.

On 4/9, just before the Thai House of Representatives voted for a new prime minister, Thaksin left Thailand for Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for medical treatment. He has been seeing doctors in Dubai who have been monitoring his health for years. Thaksin had promised to return to Thailand before 22/8 to appear in court.

The plane carrying Thaksin at Don Mueang International Airport on the afternoon of 22/8. Photo: Thai PBS

The plane carrying Thaksin at Don Mueang International Airport on the afternoon of 22/8. Photo: Thai PBS

Thaksin, 76, served as Thailand's prime minister from 2001 but was ousted in a 2006 military coup. He returned to Thailand in 8/2023 after more than a decade in exile and was immediately arrested. The former prime minister was sentenced to 8 years in prison for abuse of power, but this was commuted to one year, equivalent to the time he spent in the hospital.

Thaksin's daughter, Paetongtarn, was removed from her position at the end of last month for violating public service ethics rules during a call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen.

Huyen Le (Reuters, Khaosod, Thai PBS)