Thailand's king answered ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's request for royal pardon Friday by cutting his prison term to one year from eight.

The partial pardon from King Maha Vajiralongkorn was confirmed by the official Royal Gazette, with the announcement pointing to his service to the country as prime minister.

"He is loyal to the institution of monarchy. When prosecuted, he respected the justice system," the statement said, noting that Thaksin also suffers numerous health problems.

"His Majesty the King has granted him amnesty and reduced the sentence on Thaksin Shinawatra, the prisoner, to one year in prison, so that he could use his expertise and experience to develop the country further."

Shinawatra was convicted in absentia of graft and abuse of office but went into self-exile for 15 years, avoiding prison. The 74-year-old billionaire returned home last week as his Pheu Thai party formed a coalition government with royalists and pro-military parliamentarians. Pheu Thai's Srettha Thavisin is now the prime minister, the party's first premier since Thaksin's sister Yingluck was thrown out in a coup in 2014.

Thaksin, twice elected PM and ousted in a 2006 military coup, was sent to prison last week immediately after returning to the kingdom for the first time since 2008.

WITH AFP