Ex-prime minister Thaksin enters Thai prison hours after returning from exile

Divisive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Thailand on Tuesday after years of self-imposed exile to face possible criminal penalties on the same day that a party affiliated with him plans to start forming a new government (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

Thailand’s ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra entered prison to begin serving an eight-year sentence on Tuesday, hours after returning to the country following years of self-imposed exile.

The divisive former leader returned on the day that a party affiliated with him faces a key vote on its path to form a new government.