Former Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has been sentenced to two years in prison by the Thai Supreme Court after being found guilty of corruption during his time as Thailand’s Prime Minister.
His wife, Pojaman, had previously been found guilty and sentenced in her absence to three years in prison.
Shinawatra, who is currently honorary president of City following the takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group, has been involved in a dispute with Thai authorities since he was ousted from power in 2006.
Shinawatra returned to Thailand in February 2008 to fight the charges, but the couple left the country after his wife was sentenced.
Shinawatra was found to have violated conflict of interest rules in helping his wife buy land from a state agency at below-market price.
Thaksin, who has denied rumours that he was seeking asylum in Britain, said the case was politically motivated.
“I have been informed of the result. I had long anticipated that it would turn out this way,” Shinawatra told Reuters.
