BANGKOK -- Thailand's billionaire former premier Thaksin Shinawatra has submitted a request for a royal pardon, local media reported on Thursday, citing the outgoing justice minister. The influential Thaksin, Thailand's most famous politician, is currently serving an eight-year prison sentence for abuse of power and conflicts of interest after returning from 15 years of self-imposed exile last week. A representative of the 74-year-old Thaksin declined to comment when asked by Reuters for confirmation. His lawyer on Wednesday said Thaksin was preparing the request on his own. The former telecoms tycoon returned to Thailand last week in a dramatic homecomin...Keep on reading: Thailand’s billionaire ex-PM Thaksin submits royal pardon request–media