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Corrections denies Thaksin parole favoritism, dismisses KOPT claims

Corrections denies Thaksin parole favoritism, dismisses KOPT claims

Khaosod•Politics•21d ago

Reader Briefing

Thailand's Department of Corrections refutes claims of preferential treatment in former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's parole, asserting adherence to standard legal procedures.

  • •The Department of Corrections has issued a clarification to address concerns raised by the People's Reform Network of Students and People (KOPT) regarding the parole of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
  • •KOPT had petitioned the Minister of Justice to withhold Thaksin's parole, alleging misinterpretations of law and court orders.
  • •The Department of Corrections asserts that Thaksin met the parole eligibility criteria under the Corrections Act B.E. 2017 and related ministerial regulations, with no disciplinary infractions recorded.
  • •The statement emphasizes that parole decisions are made based on factual evidence and legal statutes, applied uniformly to all inmates, and denies any special favors.

Overview

  • •On May 9, 2026, the Department of Corrections issued a clarification.
  • •The Department of Corrections strongly denied allegations of favoritism in the parole consideration of Thaksin Shinawatra.
  • •The Department of Corrections clarified that parole eligibility is determined by facts, laws, and official court orders, not by perceived procedural improprieties.
  • •The clarification was in response to a petition from the People's Reform Network of Students and People (KOPT) to the Minister of Justice.
  • •KOPT alleged that the parole process for Thaksin involved legal misinterpretations and distortion of Supreme Court orders.
  • •The Department of Corrections stated that no disciplinary violations were found in Thaksin's case during the parole review.
  • •The parole consideration adhered to the Corrections Act B.E. 2017, Ministerial Regulation on Prerogatives of Condemned Prisoners B.E. 2019, and its amendment (No. 2) B.E. 2021.
  • •The Department of Corrections firmly stated that the parole process was conducted under uniform standards applied to all inmates nationwide, without special benefits for any individual.

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Key Quotes

Department of Corrections
"The Department of Corrections wishes to clarify that regarding the issue raised by the complainant alleging Mr. Thaksin is subject to invalid punishment proceedings or has disciplinary violations while incarcerated, the consideration of parole qualifications must rely on facts, laws, and clear judicial rulings or court orders, including official correctional information."
กรมราชทัณฑ์ ขอเรียนว่า ประเด็นตามที่ผู้ร้องกล่าวอ้างว่านายทักษิณ อยู่ในขบวนการบังคับโทษโดยมิชอบ หรือมีลักษณะเป็นผู้กระทำผิดวินัยระหว่างต้องขังนั้น การพิจารณาคุณสมบัติในการพักการลงโทษต้องอาศัยข้อเท็จจริง ข้อกฎหมาย และสถานะทางคดีตามที่ปรากฏโดยชัดแจ้งตามคำพิพากษาหรือคำสั่งของศาล รวมถึงข้อมูลทางราชทัณฑ์ที่เป็นทางการ
Department of Corrections
"The Department of Corrections reiterates that this parole consideration was not specifically for the benefit of any individual but was conducted under the same standards as for all inmates nationwide, strictly adhering to factual evidence and legal statutes."
กรมราชทัณฑ์ ขอยืนยันว่า การพิจารณาพักการลงโทษในครั้งนี้ มิได้มีการเอื้อประโยชน์แก่บุคคลหนึ่งบุคคลใดเป็นการเฉพาะ แต่ดำเนินงานภายใต้มาตรฐานเดียวกันกับผู้ต้องขังทั่วประเทศ โดยยึดถือพยานหลักฐานตามข้อเท็จจริงและตัวบทกฎหมายอย่างเคร่งครัด

Key Entities

Organization

Department of Corrections(กรมราชทัณฑ์)ℹ️
The Thai government agency responsible for the prison system and inmate welfare, issuing a statement on parole procedures.
KOPT(คปท.)
Abbreviation for the People's Reform Network of Students and People, an organization that petitioned for the withholding of Thaksin's parole.
Supreme Court(ศาลฎีกา)ℹ️
The highest court in Thailand, whose orders and rulings are cited as relevant to the parole eligibility debate.

Person

Thaksin Shinawatra(ทักษิณ ชินวัตร)ℹ️
Former Prime Minister of Thailand whose parole eligibility is the subject of controversy and clarification by the Department of Corrections.
Minister of Justice(รมว.ยุติธรรม)
The governmental minister to whom KOPT submitted their petition regarding Thaksin Shinawatra's parole.

Law

Corrections Act B.E. 2017(พ.ร.บ.ราชทัณฑ์ พ.ศ.2017)
The primary legislation governing the Thai Department of Corrections and inmate matters, cited as the basis for parole considerations.
Ministerial Regulation on Prerogatives of Condemned Prisoners B.E. 2019(กฎกระทรวงกำหนดประโยชน์ของนักโทษเด็ดขาด พ.ศ.2019)
A regulation under the Corrections Act that specifies the rights and privileges of condemned prisoners, relevant to parole eligibility.
Department of Corrections Announcement(ประกาศกรมราชทัณฑ์)
An announcement by the Department of Corrections, referenced in the dispute, concerning the conditions and prohibitions for parole.