Not considered a 'danger', former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin may be kept out of prison

According to Deputy Prime Minister Somsak, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's prison sentence is less than 4 years and the former Prime Minister is not considered a danger to the public.

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family at Don Mueang Airport, Bangkok, on August 22, 2023. (Source: Bloomberg)

On December 20, Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin confirmed that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra may be detained outside prison under new regulations. Mr. Somsak, who served as Justice Minister in the government of former Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, said that former Prime Minister Thaksin meets the criteria set out in the regulations issued and effective from early December 2023. Accordingly, prisoners allowed to be detained outside prison must meet certain requirements set by the Department of Corrections and be classified by a screening board established by this agency. According to Deputy Prime Minister Somsak, Mr. Thaksin's prison sentence is less than 4 years and the former Prime Minister is not considered a danger to the public. Mr. Somsak stated: "Therefore, he is eligible (for detention outside prison), and his remaining sentence is relatively short." The new law, which provides an alternative form of detention and could help ease prison overcrowding, is internationally accepted and is not aimed at specifically benefiting Thaksin, Deputy Prime Minister Somsak said. However, Deputy Prime Minister Somsak acknowledged that Thaksin's case had attracted attention because of his high profile. Thaksin, 74, returned to Thailand on August 22 after 15 years in exile to face charges of corruption and abuse of power while in office before 2006. He was sentenced to eight years in prison on the same day, which was later reduced to one year after receiving a royal pardon. Thaksin was taken from the Bangkok Detention Center to the Police General Hospital on the night of August 22 for health reasons and is believed to have been treated there since then. December 21 will mark 120 days since Thaksin was transferred to hospital, just hours after entering prison. Under Thai law, the attorney general must personally approve any stay beyond 120 days for a prisoner receiving medical treatment outside a prison hospital.

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