Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thessuddin confirmed on Wednesday that convicted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be eligible to be detained outside prison under a new rule that allows eligible prisoners to be detained elsewhere.
Songsak, who served as the previous ** justice minister, said Thaksin met the criteria set out in the regulations issued and put into effect earlier this month.
According to the regulations, prisoners who are allowed to be held outside the prison must meet certain requirements set by the Department of Corrections and be sorted by a screening panel set up by the department.
Songsack said the former prime minister's sentence was less than four years and he was not considered a danger to the public. "So he qualifies [for detention outside of prison], and he has a relatively short remaining sentence," he said.
The Pheu Thai minister vehemently denied his support for the rule and said it was recently enacted in line with the Corrections Act 2017, which was in effect before his last term as justice minister.
He said that this provision provides an alternative form of detention that helps to alleviate prison overcrowding and has been accepted by the international community and is not intended to benefit Thaksin in particular.
However, he acknowledged that Thaksin's case has aroused interest because Thaksin is a high-profile figure.
Thaksin, 74, returned to Thailand on August 22 after 15 years of self-imposed exile and faces punishment for corruption and abuse of power during his tenure before 2006. He was sentenced to 8 years in prison that day, which was later commuted to 1 year in prison. Received a royal pardon.
The former prime minister was taken from Bangkok's remand prison on the evening of 22 August to the General Police Hospital for health reasons, where he has reportedly remained since.
Thursday was 120 days after Thaksin's transfer to the hospital, just hours before Thaksin was imprisoned. By law, prisoners are allowed to stay longer than 120 days outside the prison hospital, which must be personally approved by the Minister of Justice.
10,000 inmates are eligible".
Somsak dismissed criticism that the disciplinary provisions undermined the court system, saying the department was responsible for overseeing prisoners' sentences.
But the process is not limited to detention in prison," he said.
According to Mr. Somsak, about 10,000 inmates may qualify for the provision.
He said Thaksin's case, including his prolonged hospitalization, provided an opportunity for corrections to explain the regulations to the public.
When asked why Thaksin, who appeared to be in good health, suddenly fell ill shortly after returning to Thailand, Songsak said that the huge stress has a big impact on a person's health. He advised journalists to try a few nights in prison and see for themselves.
Sahakarn Peatnarin, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and Director General of the Department of Corrections**, said a working group is finalizing guidelines related to the statute, which he is not sure will be ready by the end of the year.
Asked if Thaksin would stay in the hospital or move to his home, he said the panel of experts would decide which location would be appropriate for each prisoner. Any selected site must still provide a certain level of supervision and control over the prisoners.
He declined to say whether Thaksin would be one of the first prisoners to benefit from the new rules, saying that the list of eligible prisoners was compiled by prisons across the country.
Pichit Chaimonggkol, leader of Thailand's Student and People's Reform Network, submitted a petition to the Senate Human Rights Committee on Wednesday asking for an investigation into whether Thaksin still needs medical attention, after Corrections and Police General Hospital refused to provide details citing patient confidentiality.
Senator Somchai Sawankarn, chairman of the committee, said the commission would invite Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong and relevant authorities to provide details on correctional provisions and Thaksin's case on Monday.
A doctor told a House committee last week that Thaksin suffers from high blood pressure, narrowing of blood vessels and hepatitis B. He has undergone two surgeries since he was admitted to the hospital, but his condition is not disclosed. *We declined to elaborate.
Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thesutin (left) attends a seminar at Impact Muang Thong Thani in October. Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be eligible to be detained outside prison under a new rule, Somsa, who served as the previous ** Justice Minister, confirmed on Wednesday.