Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra holds the same entitlements as any other prisoner for additional reductions in his prison term, stated ex-deputy prime minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.
Thaksin is under care at the Police General Hospital’s elite section during his imprisonment, after his return to Thailand following a 15-year self-imposed exile.
Mr. Wissanu addressed reports that cited him, clarifying that the royal pardon, which shortened Thaksin’s 8-year sentence to one year, was the final decision and he wasn’t entitled to seek added leniency.
He clarified that he had been misquoted and that his actual intent was to emphasize that last Friday’s royal pardon was a conclusive royal decision.
He asserted he never commented on Thaksin being stripped of any opportunities for added prison term reductions or another pardon.
Just as other inmates with a remaining year or less in their sentence possess certain rights, Thaksin is entitled to the same, Mr. Wissanu articulated.
“(Thaksin’s remaining jail term) could still be further reduced. But whether it will be reduced or not, I don’t know. Some expect it to be cut further on the occasion of Father’s Day (Dec 5)”, he commented.
The pardon came into effect last Friday, a day subsequent to Mr. Wissanu, in his role as caretaker justice minister, getting a formal request from Thaksin.
Upon his arrival, Thaksin was relocated to a quarantine area of Bangkok Remand Prison post the Supreme Court’s verdict of an eight-year sentence for three different cases.
In just 13 hours, he was moved to the Police General Hospital due to health complications like chest discomfort, elevated blood pressure, and low blood oxygen levels. He has been there ever since.
