Thaksin Shinawatra jailed on return to Thailand as his party regains power

Ex-PM begins eight-year jail term but election of Srettha Thavisin as leader could allow him to avoid full sentence

Thailand's populist former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has arrived in Bangkok after more than 15 years in exile as his party returned to government in a controversial pact with its military rivals that keeps reformists out of power.

Thaksin - a hugely influential but also divisive politician - began an eight-year jail term on his return, though commentators have noted that his arrival in the country coincides with his party's return to office and a backroom deal could allow him to escape a full sentence.