Protester hold fan with image of Thaksinz

Thaksin Shinawatra, born 26 July 1949) is a Thai billionaire who was Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, when he was deposed in a military coup. In 2008, Thaksin was found guilty in a Thai court of corruption and sentenced in absentia to two years imprisonment. As of today, he has not served his sentence and under Thai law remains a fugitive. Thaksin briefly owned Manchester City Football Club from 2007 to 2008. Following a prolonged series of violent political protests in Bangkok, Thailand from March to May 2010, a court in Bangkok issued a warrant for the arrest of Thaksin on terrorism charges.