PM shrugs off questions about Corrections Dept’s latest regulation for Thaksin

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

PRIME MINISTER SRETTHA Thavisin today (Dec.12) sidestepped an inquiry into the latest regulation of the Corrections Department which may have been allegedly practically issued for the sake of de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict at large Thaksin Shinawatra.

The prime minister unreluctantly declined to respond to questions asked by reporters at Government House as to whether the department’s recently-issued regulation may have been designed to indefinitely extend Thaksin’s stay at Police Hospital for undisclosed “illnesses”, thus keeping him from being literally put behind bars at Bangkok Remand Prison.

The contentious regulation of the department under care of the Ministry of Justice provides for certain convicts to be “detained” outside of a prison for specific reasons which could possibly refer to residential lodgings.

The de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict at large has been admitted for the secrecy-shrouded “illnesses” in a tight-security, private ward at Police Hospital for nearly four months since he returned from self-exile abroad on Aug.22.

Srettha only said the specific case of the “sickly” Thaksin is entirely dependent on the Ministry of Justice to respond.

Neither did Justice Minister Thavi Sodsong respond to similar questions asked by reporters at Government House today.

Thavi has earlier said acting Corrections Department director-general Sahakarn Petnarin is dutifully bound to decide whether the deposed prime minister’s stay at Police Hospital may be extended beyond the 120-day time due on Dec.22, however.

Representatives of the Corrections Department and Police Hospital are scheduled on Thursday to testify before the House Committee on Police Affairs over whether the country’s judicial and correctional procedures as well as legal loopholes may have been allegedly compromised to practically keep the “sickly” de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict from spending a single day behind bars.

Meanwhile, political activist Pichit Chaimongkol and a dozen fellow anti-Thaksin demonstrators peacefully gathered outside Government House today, taking the Pheu Thai-led government to task over undue privileges allegedly granted to the de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict at large.

Pichit alleged that Thaksin is undoubtedly not going to leave Police Hospital for a hospital in the premises of Bangkok Remand Prison, given the department’s latest regulation specifically designed in his favour.

That the de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict  has been granted privileges over others is evidently raising social disparity and flouting court verdicts which could practically be overruled by a regulation of the Corrections Department, he said.

CAPTION:

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin talking to reporters, above, and at Government House, Front Page.

Insert: De facto Phue Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra upon his arrival at Don Mueang Airport on Aug. 22, 2023 with his daughter and Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra next to him. All photos: Thai Rath

Also read: Corrections Dept, Police Hospital representatives face House panel grilling on Thaksin

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