Attorney General Tawee Sodsong said the Department of Corrections would allow the House Police Affairs Committee to visit the 14th floor of the Police General Hospital on January 12, where convicted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra lives.
However, he said, all visitors must follow the visitor rules. He said that the Ombudsman also inspected the 14th floor along with several other agencies.
Deputy Prime Minister Songsack Tepsuddin had previously warned members of the House Committee not to inspect the 14th floor of the hospital without the permission of the Shinawatra family because they were at risk of being prosecuted for trespassing.
Because of the double standards in the case, the House panel had threatened to attend, whether invited or not.
When asked about Thaksin's state of health, Officer Tawi said he had not received any updates from the Ministry of Health. "I have never visited Thaksin, but I have seen the doctors who took care of Thaksin, and they confirmed that Thaksin was indeed sick," said Pol Colonel Tawi.
The Ministry of Health allowed Thaksin to remain at the Police General Hospital, despite the fact that Thaksin had reached the allowable 120-day hospitalization** period on December 22.
The inspection follows criticism that a rule issued by the Ministry of Justice on December 6 that allows certain prisoners to be held outside the prison was specifically adapted to the former prime minister.
Thaksin, 74, returned to Thailand on August 22 after 15 years of self-imposed exile.
He was immediately sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in three corruption cases, which was later reduced to one year through a royal pardon.
However, due to health reasons, he was transferred from the Bangkok Remand Prison to the Police General Hospital that night, where he has remained ever since.
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