Is it curtain forever for Thaksin?

If Thaksin really intends to return to his motherland without serving any of his sentences, he will have to stay in exile for 15 more years. The 59-year-old fugitive, who fled to London with his wife Pojaman on August 11, would be 74 years old then.

The Supreme Court on Holders of Political Office yesterday sentenced Thaksin to two years in jail for abuse of power and conflict of interest for allegedly helping his wife's purchase of a lucrative Bangkok land from a state agency in 2003 while he was prime minister.

The case has a statute of limitation of 10 years. It means Thaksin would have to remain a fugitive until he is 69 years old to escape being sentenced.

However, Thaksin would not be able to return to Thailand immediately but he would have to wait for five more years to escape all charges. Three arrest warrants have been issued for Thaksin since last month, following his failure to show up for the beginning of three trials he faces.

The three warrants pertain to the following cases:

- Alleged irregularity in the Bt4-billion loan given by state-controlled Export and Import Bank to the military government of Burma.

- The two-three-digit lottery case.

- Amending tax policy to enrich his business (Shin Corp) empire

If Thaksin fails to appear in court for the first hearing, the cases have a statute of limitation of 15 years. It means that Thaksin would escape from all charges when he is 74.

If he still aspires to return to politics, he will need to wait for five more years. Article 102 and 174 of the Constitution stipulate the banning of a candidate to be a member of Parliament and a minister respectively.

In Thaksin's case, the following article would apply for disqualification:

"… Sentenced to imprisonment and having been discharged less than five years to the Election Day, except for negligence or minor offences committed through negligence."

Is that too old for the former PM to return to the political stage?