Penthouse suite, first-class ticket

Bangkok: For his first night back in Thailand, deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra booked a penthouse suite at one of Bangkok's finest hotels for $3,300 (Dh12,111) a night - one of many expenses as he returned from exile in style.

Thaksin's two-bedroom suite at the riverside Peninsula Hotel features a private fitness room, butler's quarters and is sumptuously decorated with Persian rugs, traditional Asian furniture and wood-panelled walls, according to hotel officials who spoke on condition of anonymity and the hotel's website.

The 58-year-old billionaire spared little expense for his homecoming yesterday after 17 months in exile to face corruption charges. It was his first time on Thai soil since being ousted in a September 2006 coup.

Thaksin flew first class on Thai Airways from Hong Kong, a one-way trip that costs about $850, Thai Airways said.

After arriving in Bangkok, Thaksin was whisked away by police to the Supreme Court and then the Attorney General's Office, both of which had issued arrest warrants in connection with two corruption cases against him.

Thaksin walked free after posting a total of 9 million baht in bail ($300,500).