Thaksin freed on parole

BANGKOK, Feb 18 (BBC): Thailand's convicted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has arrived at his mansion in the capital Bangkok after being released on parole.
The billionaire was freed from a police hospital, where he had been serving a one-year jail sentence for corruption and abuse of power. Thaksin, 74, was detained as soon as he returned to Thailand last August from 15 years in self-imposed exile.
He did not spend a single night in jail after complaining of health problems. Thaksin's original eight-year prison term was commuted to one year by Thailand's king - just days after he returned from exile. The handling of the case has led to criticism from many Thais, who say the rich and powerful are often given privileged treatment.
"Thailand needs a democratic system where the rule of law and justice system is applied in the same way for everyone, without double standards... for privileged people," Thailand's Move Forward Party, which won a majority of seats at the last election but was blocked from government by the Senate, said in a statement.
"Very sick? Parole? What disease?" Senator Somchai Swangkarn said.