Old picture of Thailand's jailed ex-PM Thaksin falsely shared as recent
- Published on January 23, 2024 at 05:12
- 3 min read
- By Chayanit ITTHIPONGMAETEE, AFP Thailand
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"Leaked photo of convicted prisoner Thaksin Shinawatra," reads the Thai-language caption to the photo posted on social media site X. It goes on to claim the photo was taken on "11 January 2024" -- the same day the post was published.
The former prime minister was ousted by a military coup in 2006 and spent more than 15 years in self-imposed exile. He returned to the kingdom on August 22, 2023 and was immediately jailed for old graft and abuse of power convictions.
The 74-year-old billionaire was transferred within hours to a private room at a police hospital because of his reportedly poor health. On September 1, 2023 the king cut his sentence to one year.
Thaksin's homecoming coincided with his Pheu Thai party returning to government in alliance with several pro-military parties, sparking widespread speculation that an agreement had been struck to cut his jail time.
The same picture was also shared with the false claim elsewhere on X, as well as on TikTok and Facebook here and here.
Many comments under these posts indicate people believed the photo was recent.
"Oops. Didn't they say Thaksin is very sick and need to stay longer in hospital? Looks like he is doing great," one wrote.
"If this photo is genuine, we can take Thaksin back to jail," another said.
According to the kingdom's Department of Corrections, an elderly inmate with health problems can apply for parole after spending a minimum of six months in prison. This would make Thaksin eligible for parole in February 2024.
Misused photo
However, the picture in the posts is old. It was earlier shared by Thaksin's daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra on her Instagram account on July 13, 2022 -- over a year before the former leader's return to Thailand (archived link).
Paetongtarn's caption to the photo translates to English as: "Recovered now. Mental support of @thaksinlive. My father never got surgery until now, when he is 73 years old."
Below is a screenshot comparison between the picture in the false posts (left) and on Paetongtarn's Instagram post (right):
Thai media outlets also published the same picture in July 2022 in articles about Thaksin's health condition at the time.
Thai media outlet Thairath reported on July 13, 2022 the former prime minister underwent gallbladder and hernia surgeries in Singapore three days earlier (archived link).
An online news website called Manager also published the photo in a report about Thaksin undergoing medical procedures (archived link).
The article's headline reads: "Paetongtarn announced on Instagram that her father has recovered and feels great. He was discharged from hospital and walked out smoothly."
AFP previously debunked another misused photo falsely claimed to show Thaksin after he returned to Thailand here.
In a statement published on Facebook on January 11, 2024, Thailand's Department of Corrections said Thaksin remains at the Police General Hospital in the capital Bangkok (archived link).
The statement reads in part: "After reviewing the medical recommendations and submitted documents, the Director of the Department of Corrections approved the continuation of Thaksin's medical treatment at the Police General Hospital on January 8, 2024."
"Thaksin's ongoing health issues necessitate specialized and immediate medical attention to manage any complications that could be life-threatening."
The statement did not disclose further details about his condition.
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