Thailand’s ex-PM Thaksin released after six months of detention

Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra has been released from jail after six months of detention. 

He leaves hospital for home on Sunday morning where he spent six months in detention. He was arrested and jailed in August following his return to the kingdom after more than 16 years of self-imposed exile. 

According to Al Jazeera, Thaksin was seen early on Sunday in a vehicle leaving the Police General Hospital in central Bangkok. Then he was wearing a neck brace and a surgical mask. 

Then he was taken to his home in western Bangkok, where a banner with the words “Welcome home” and “We’ve been waiting for this day for so so long” was hanging at the front gate.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said earlier this week that Thaksin, who was jailed for eight years on corruption charges before his sentence was reduced to one year by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, would be released on parole.