In August , Thaksin and his wife skipped a court appearance and fled to the United Kingdom rather than testify in the real-estate case . Ex - PM Thaksin Shinawatra convicted of corruption , sentenced to jail . New rules that banned wife 's purchase of Bangkok real estate in 2003 . Thaksin , who lives in exile in France , unlikely to spend time in jail .
Ex - PM Thaksin Shinawatra convicted of corruption , sentenced to jail . New rules that banned wife 's purchase of Bangkok real estate in 2003 . Thaksin , who lives in exile in France , unlikely to spend time in jail .