Former Thai Prime Minister Applies for Royal Pardon

Outgoing Thai Justice Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam indicated today, Thursday, that "former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has applied for a royal pardon." The application for a royal pardon must be submitted from the Corrections Department to the Justice Minister, and if Thaksin does not receive the royal pardon, he will have to wait two years to apply for another. Billionaire Thaksin was one of the giants in the country's telecommunications sector and still holds sway in the Thai political scene, as parties loyal to him have won every election over the past two decades up to this year.