Thailand’s former PM released from prison after eight months

Thaksin Shinawatra has been released from prison (AP)

Thailand ’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose 21st-century political odyssey sharply divided Thai society for decades, has been released from a Bangkok prison after serving eight months of a one-year sentence for a corruption-related charge.

A crowd of about 300 supporters and political allies gathered outside the Klong Prem Central Prison to greet the 76-year-old billionaire populist.