Fugitive Ex-PM Thaksin To Be Arrested On Return To Thailand, May Seek Royal Pardon

Sources told the Straits Times that Thailand's fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be arrested as soon as he disembarks his private jet on arrival to the country tomorrow. Thaksin had earlier confirmed that he will be back in Thailand on Tuesday at 03:00BST/09:00ICT.

• The Straits Times reports that Thaksin will be detained and taken to the Supreme Court's criminal division, before being transferred to prison. The courts sentenced him to at least 10 years behind bars for power abuse and corruption.
• Thaksin will return to Thailand just hours before parliament holds the Prime Minister vote, in which a Pheu Thai Party (PTP) candidate is expected to win nomination. The PTP was founded by Thaksin after his former party was dissolved in the wake of a 2006 military coup and has been a vehicle of his continued influence on Thai politics.
• Some suggest that the permission for Thaksin's return to Thailand was part of Pheu Thai's deal with former foes from the pro-junta parties, which will keep election front-runners, the reformist Move Forward Party (MFP), out of the government.
• Speculation is rife that if the touted deal with pro-military parties is in force, Thaksin could be held in special detention in a medical facility due to his old age, before quickly applying for royal pardon.