(Bangkok, 27th) Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin, who is currently serving a sentence in Bangkok’s Klong Prem Prison, has found a new job as a supervisor for sewer cleaners. This means he may be able to stay outside the prison during work hours; and as a supervisor, he does not need to get hands-on, unlike ordinary cleaners who have to shovel garbage and sludge from roadside sewers.
Thaksin’s daughter, former Prime Minister and Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn told the media on Thursday (September 25th) after visiting the prison that this was arranged by the prison warden. She also said that her father was in good health.
However, the Thai Department of Corrections clarified that working outside of prison was initiated by Thaksin himself and has not yet been approved or arranged by the prison, as it is still to be determined whether Thaksin meets the relevant requirements and conditions.
According to Thai media, generally prisoners convicted of light offenses, those who behave well during incarceration, and those with a short remaining sentence can apply to work outside prison to earn money, such as as cleaners helping the Bangkok city government clean sewers.
However, news that Thaksin may be allowed to work outside the prison has raised doubts from various parties, because according to regulations, prisoners eligible for outside work must have served at least a third of their sentence, and Thaksin was sentenced to one year in prison on September 9th and has been in prison for less than a month so far.
Department of Corrections deputy spokesperson Kanowan explained on Friday (26th) that if prisoners meet all the necessary criteria, the prison will consider allowing them to work outside, but this must be approved by an internal committee. Once approved, it must further be reviewed by the Central Committee of the Department of Corrections for final approval.
76-year-old Thaksin returned to Thailand in August 2023 after 15 years of exile, and was sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption and abuse of power. However, he was immediately transferred to the Police General Hospital for treatment on the first day of incarceration. He later received a royal pardon from the Thai King and his sentence was reduced to one year. After six months in the hospital, Thaksin was granted parole last February. During this time, he did not spend a single night in prison.
On September 9th of this year, Thailand’s Supreme Court ruled that Thaksin’s time in hospital treatment could not be counted toward his sentence, and decided he must serve one more year in prison.
Thaksin’s daughter, former Prime Minister and Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn told the media on Thursday (September 25th) after visiting the prison that this was arranged by the prison warden. She also said that her father was in good health.
However, the Thai Department of Corrections clarified that working outside of prison was initiated by Thaksin himself and has not yet been approved or arranged by the prison, as it is still to be determined whether Thaksin meets the relevant requirements and conditions.
According to Thai media, generally prisoners convicted of light offenses, those who behave well during incarceration, and those with a short remaining sentence can apply to work outside prison to earn money, such as as cleaners helping the Bangkok city government clean sewers.
However, news that Thaksin may be allowed to work outside the prison has raised doubts from various parties, because according to regulations, prisoners eligible for outside work must have served at least a third of their sentence, and Thaksin was sentenced to one year in prison on September 9th and has been in prison for less than a month so far.
Department of Corrections deputy spokesperson Kanowan explained on Friday (26th) that if prisoners meet all the necessary criteria, the prison will consider allowing them to work outside, but this must be approved by an internal committee. Once approved, it must further be reviewed by the Central Committee of the Department of Corrections for final approval.
76-year-old Thaksin returned to Thailand in August 2023 after 15 years of exile, and was sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption and abuse of power. However, he was immediately transferred to the Police General Hospital for treatment on the first day of incarceration. He later received a royal pardon from the Thai King and his sentence was reduced to one year. After six months in the hospital, Thaksin was granted parole last February. During this time, he did not spend a single night in prison.
On September 9th of this year, Thailand’s Supreme Court ruled that Thaksin’s time in hospital treatment could not be counted toward his sentence, and decided he must serve one more year in prison.