[BANGKOK] Thailand’s medical council on Thursday (Jun 12) upheld its suspension of two doctors who enabled influential politician Thaksin Shinawatra to spend his prison sentence in hospital, a day ahead of the start of a Supreme Court case that could see him jailed.
Thaksin, the driving force behind the current government, returned from 15 years of self-exile in 2023 to serve a prison term for abuse of power and conflicts of interest, but was sent to hospital after only a few hours in jail complaining of chest problems.
The polarising billionaire, whose daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra is prime minister, stayed in a VIP wing of the hospital for six months until his release on parole without a single night in jail, prompting public outrage and deep scepticism about the extent of his ailments.
“More than two-thirds of the council voted to uphold the punishments,” Medical Council of Thailand vice president, Prasit Watanapa, told reporters.
“Members made the decision based on medical principles, evidence and reason.”
The suspensions could impact a case at the Supreme Court that begins on Friday in which the legality of Thaksin’s hospital stay has been challenged, with the possibility the tycoon could be made to serve that time again, in prison.
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Thaksin, 75, remains a towering figure in Thai politics and though he holds no formal government role, he is highly influential.
His lawyer declined to comment on Thursday on the council’s decision.
The revival of the controversy over Thaksin’s hospital stay comes at a challenging time for Paetongtarn’s government, which is seeing its popularity dwindle amid a prolonged struggle to spur economic growth and domestic pressure to take a tougher stance on an ongoing border dispute with Cambodia.
Thaksin’s sentence was originally eight years, but it was commuted to a year by the king and he became eligible for parole after six months.
The medical council’s vote overrides a veto of its earlier decision by Health Minister Somsak Thapsutin, a Thaksin ally.
The council had yet to confirm the duration of the suspension of the two doctors, who it found had issued documents that contained false medical information. They had denied wrongdoing and stood by their medical assessments.
Another doctor with the corrections department received a warning for failing to meet medical standards in a referral notice for Thaksin.
Sixty per cent of respondents in a poll last week believed Thaksin’s case would affect the stability of a government whose popularity was shaken after it paused a cash handout programme to tens of millions of Thais.
“He has a lot of influence on this government and it would hurt public confidence if the outcome of the case is negative,” said Yuttaporn Issarachai, a political science expert at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.
The Pheu Thai administration is also grappling to keep the border dispute with Cambodia from spiralling out of control, as both sides have mobilised troops before talks between their militaries curbed rising tension set off by a recent skirmish.
Saturday’s talks with Cambodia may not lead to a resolution, however, said Titipol Phakdeewanich, a specialist in political science at Ubon Ratchathani University.
“The prime minister has not been very firm in her statements, which raised questions by some about whether this government is actually protecting the interests of the country,” Titipol said.
The border row has become a lightning rod for administration critics, with royalists holding small protests and urging the military to oust the government, as it has at least 10 times since 1932.
“The country now faces security issues and nationalism is on the rise at a time when government leadership is at its weakest,” said Jatuporn Prompan, a Thaksin ally turned critic.
“Some people have started calling for a coup.”
But Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai last week talked down such a possibility.
“The army has to do its duty,” he told reporters. “There is no conflict with the government.” REUTERS
