Justice Minister Addresses Concerns Over New Detention Regulation
PUBLISHED : 27 Aug 2024 at 21:52
Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong has defended a newly proposed regulation aimed at allowing some convicts to serve their sentences outside of prison amid concerns about potential benefits for former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
The Department of Corrections has introduced this measure in response to severe overcrowding in the nation’s prisons, which currently house approximately 220,000 inmates, despite a maximum capacity of 150,000 to 160,000, according to Pol Col Tawee.
He characterized the regulation as an innovative approach that allows for hospitals to function as detention locations for ill inmates, adhering to the provisions outlined in the 2017 Corrections Act.
This legislation stipulates that alternative detention facilities should provide rehabilitation and vocational training without being viewed as lenient options for inmates.
Pol Col Tawee emphasized that the new regulation is unrelated to Yingluck’s case, highlighting that she was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison by the Supreme Court in 2017 for negligence in addressing corrupt rice sales. Yingluck departed the country shortly before her sentencing.
Regarding rumors of Yingluck seeking a royal pardon, Pol Col Tawee stated that the Ministry of Justice has no knowledge of such plans.
The criteria for eligibility under the new regulation have been established and are set to be reviewed by the Corrections Board, which includes representatives from multiple relevant agencies.
No specific timeframe has been outlined for how much of an inmate’s sentence must be remaining to be eligible for alternative detention; however, considerations will include inmates’ behavior, age, health status, and circumstances such as pregnancy.
Calls for Transparency in Enforcement
Former Democrat leader Jurin Laksanawisit has called for clarity about whether individuals convicted of corruption offenses, like Yingluck, will be eligible under the new regulation.
“Transparency is essential to prevent the perception of preferential treatment for any convict,” he stated.
Speculation concerning Yingluck’s potential return to Thailand and reintegration into the legal system continues, particularly in the wake of her brother Thaksin’s recent return. Thaksin, who came back to Thailand after a 15-year absence, was sentenced to eight years in prison but served only six months in a hospital before being granted parole due to health considerations.
