Former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been handed an eight-year prison sentence upon his return to the country after 15 years in exile.

He arrived via a private jet ahead of the upcoming election to select a new Thai leader.

The sentence is related to prior criminal convictions that Thaksin claims were driven by political motives.

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Thaksin, a charismatic telecommunications tycoon and one of Thailand’s most successful elected leaders, has been a target of conservative royalists who have employed military coups and contentious legal actions to diminish his influence.

His return was met with enthusiasm from devoted supporters who had gathered overnight at the main airport in Bangkok to welcome him.

Accompanied by his children, Thaksin paid respects to the king and queen before being transported to the Supreme Court, where the sentence was handed down.

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At the age of 74, Thaksin will be housed in a prison wing equipped with medical facilities and will undergo a 10-day quarantine, initially confined to his room for the first five days.

There is speculation that Thaksin might seek a royal pardon, and authorities have confirmed that he can submit a petition from prison, a process that could take several weeks.