The king of Thailand has commuted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's 8-year prison sentence to one, after the former premier requested a royal pardon.
He was jailed last week on corruption and other charges. Thaksin attracts intense focus because of his continuing influence on Thai politics.

The king's clemency announcement comes a day after the acting justice minister confirmed Thaksin's request for a royal pardon. The king's statement says Thaksin is a former prime minister who performed good deeds for the country and its people. It added Thaksin is old and has health problems.

Thaksin was ousted as prime minister during a coup in 2006. After 15 years of de-facto exile, he returned to Thailand last week. The 74-year-old was sent straight to prison.

But the next day, he was transferred to a police hospital as he complained he couldn't sleep, and felt tightness in his chest. He's been hospitalized since then.

Thailand will soon install a new coalition government. The prime minister is Srettha Thavisin, from the Pheu Thai Party. The party's previous incarnation, Thai Rak Thai, was founded by Thaksin. In order to take power, Srettha has formed a coalition with former rivals in pro-military parties.

There's been speculation the coalition was part of a deal in Thaksin's bid for a pardon.