Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong has distanced himself from a Department of Corrections (DoC) decision to allow convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to receive VIP medical treatment outside of prison.
Pol Col Tawee was answering a question asked by Chonthicha Jangrew, a Move Forward Party MP, who raised the issue during a meeting on Thursday. The MP slammed the DoC's decision to allow Thaksin to stay at the Police General Hospital for more than 120 days, and said that other inmates do not enjoy such privileges.
She also asked Pol Col Tawee to explain why Thaksin was allowed to stay in a special room on the 14th floor of the Police General Hospital and to clarify the DoC's new regulation that allows for the detention of qualified inmates outside prison.
Responding to the MP, Pol Col Tawee only said he has not received any report on the matter from the DoC's director-general yet. "I am not the one who approved the regulation. My duty is to acknowledge it," he said.
"I also asked doctors [about Thaksin] and they confirmed that he is sick," Pol Col Tawee said.
Regarding the new rule that allows the detention of prisoners outside prison, he said the new rule applies to any prisoners who meet the criteria, not just Thaksin.
On Dec 6, the DoC issued the new rule.
Under the regulation, prisoners allowed to be detained outside of prison must meet certain requirements.
Thaksin, 74, returned to Thailand on Aug 22 after 15 years of self-imposed exile and was sentenced to eight years in three cases. However, he was sent from Bangkok Remand Prison to the Police General Hospital that night for health reasons and has remained there since.
