Ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra has flown home to a welcome from thousands of supporters, kissing the ground as he ended nearly 18 months of self-imposed exile.
Immediately after landing in Bangkok, he was driven under police escort to court to face corruption charges filed by the military regime that deposed him in a September 2006 coup.
In brief separate hearings, the Supreme Court and the Attorney General's Office freed him on combined bail of nine million baht (€186,000) and banned him from leaving Thailand without permission from the court's judges.
The graft cases date back to 2003. He is accused of using his influence as premier to win a sweetheart property deal for his wife, and making fraudulent filings to securities regulators in the listing of a property company.
Mr Thaksin, who is due to appear before the Supreme Court again on 12 March, and his wife Pojaman could each face up to 15 years in prison if convicted on all charges in both cases.
He has insisted the graft charges are politically-motivated.
Mr Thaksin's return comes with a new civilian government in office in Bangkok under Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, a close ally who was handpicked by Mr Thaksin to lead the People Power Party to success in December elections.
The coup was welcomed by Bangkok's middle-classes, who led months of street protests against twice-elected Mr Thaksin in early 2006, accusing him of abuse of power and corruption.
But the military government left many coup supporters disillusioned as the generals mishandled the economy and failed to win convictions on the charges against Mr Thaksin.
Mr Thaksin has spent most his time since the coup living in Britain.
More than 10,000 supporters, many carrying red roses and waving blue flags, gathered at Bangkok's international airport to meet him this morning.
Some arrived before dawn to get a prime spot to greet their ousted leader, who arrived from Hong Kong.
His son was also on the flight, along with a number of businessmen and two footballers from English Premier League club Manchester City, which Mr Thaksin bought last year.
