Former PM Of Thailand
OpenLife Nigeria reports that Thailand’s former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, has been granted bail under a new rule, paving the way for his release from a police hospital in the coming days.
Thaksin, 74, who was jailed for eight years for abuse of power before a royal pardon reduced the term to one year, was granted release on parole, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told reporters on Tuesday.
Thaksin, who returned from exile last August and was promptly arrested, is among 930 inmates approved for early parole out of a list submitted by the Department of Corrections, Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong said.
“According to the [Department of Corrections] committee’s report, Mr. Thaksin was on the list of those who were eligible for special parole, since he was classified in a group of aging inmates … who are over 70 and suffered serious health problems,” the minister said according to information available to OpenLife.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who hails from the party Thaksin founded, confirmed the parole and said it was “in line with” regulations.
Thaksin was ousted as prime minister in a military coup in 2006 and fled Thailand in 2008, avoiding an eight-year sentence for corruption and abuse of power handed down by the Supreme Court.
He returned voluntarily on Aug. 22, in conjunction with the rise of the Srettha-led Pheu Thai party government, and was jailed. But on his first night in Bangkok Remand Prison, he was transferred to Police General Hospital for apparent heart and lung problems. He has been there since, despite little clarification on what exactly ails him.
In December, the Department of Corrections announced a new rule that special parole can be granted to inmates who have completed one-third of their prison terms and are either over 70 or are suffering from grave health problems, and instead can serve out their sentences at home.
Thaksin’s confinement in hospital, coupled with the convenient rule change, has stirred accusations that the tycoon is receiving favorable treatment. The former leader’s jail term was already shortened from eight years to one year by royal clemency.
Thaksin is listed as eligible for this special parole between Feb. 18 and Feb. 20. The precise timing and terms, such was what kind of monitoring may be imposed on him, remain unclear.
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