Thaksin Shinawatra

Who is Thaksin Shinawatra?

Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai business tycoon turned politician. He founded Advanced Info Service, Thailand's most successful mobile phone operator. He founded the populist Thai Rak Thai party in 1998 and became Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 until 2006 when he was overthrown in a military coup. Thaksin has since lived in exile except for a brief visit to Thailand in 2008. He was convicted by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions of abusing his power to help his wife buy public land at an auction, and was sentenced to two years in jail. Various criminal charges await him if he returns to Thailand. His sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, however, is the current Prime Minister of Thailand.