Somsak denies issuing laws to benefit Thaksin Shinawatra

MGR Online•Politics•4d ago

Reader Briefing

Former Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin denies allegations that he issued ministerial regulations to benefit Thaksin Shinawatra.

•Somsak Thepsutin clarified that ministerial regulations regarding prisoner benefits were drafted by the Department of Corrections and approved by the Cabinet.
•Lao Ta Sanlee, the Golden Triangle drug kingpin, was released on August 14 after serving 8 years and 3 months of a life sentence.
•Somsak Thepsutin stated that Lao Ta Sanlee still had 17 years, 8 months, and 13 days of imprisonment remaining when Somsak left office on March 17, 2023.
•Somsak Thepsutin highlighted the impact of COVID-19 and prison overcrowding during the 2020-2021 period as context for royal pardons.

•Somsak Thepsutin denied claims that he issued ministerial regulations to facilitate the return of Thaksin Shinawatra.
•Somsak Thepsutin accelerated the issuance of subordinate laws under the Corrections Act 2017 after taking office in July 2019.
•Royal pardons for prisoners aged 70 and above had been established since at least 1987 and were further detailed in 2010 and 2019.
•Somsak Thepsutin served as Minister of Justice from July 10, 2019, to March 17, 2023.
•Somsak Thepsutin noted that prison riots in Buriram on March 29, 2020, and Krabi on December 16-17, 2021, were partly driven by COVID-19 concerns and overcrowding.
•Somsak Thepsutin reported asset seizures rose from 790 million baht in 2020 to 21,610 million baht in 2023.
•Somsak Thepsutin pushed for the passage of 9 laws, including the JSOC law and the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act 2022.

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Somsak Thepsutin

"I have performed my duties to the fullest!"

ผมทำหน้าที่ของผมอย่างเต็มที่ครับ!

Somsak Thepsutin(สมศักดิ์ เทพสุทิน)

Former Minister of Justice who served from July 10, 2019, to March 17, 2023.

Thaksin Shinawatra(ทักษิณ ชินวัตร)ℹ️

An individual whose return to serve a sentence was allegedly facilitated by laws issued by the Minister of Justice.

Lao Ta Sanlee(เล่าต๋า แสนลี่)

The drug kingpin of the Golden Triangle who was released on August 14 after serving 8 years and 3 months of a life sentence.

Prayut Chan-o-cha(ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา)ℹ️

The General whose government declared a nationwide state of emergency starting March 26, 2020.

Department of Corrections(กรมราชทัณฑ์)ℹ️

The agency that drafted ministerial regulations and is responsible for reviewing the application of criteria for prisoner release.

ONCB(ปปส.)

The agency responsible for statistics regarding asset seizures.

Buriram Provincial Prison(เรือนจำจังหวัดบุรีรัมย์)

The site of a riot and fire on March 29, 2020.

Krabi Provincial Prison(เรือนจำจังหวัดกระบี่)

The site of protests, riots, and fire on December 16-17, 2021.

Corrections Act 2017(พ.ร.บ.ราชทัณฑ์ พ.ศ. 2560)

The primary law under which subordinate ministerial regulations were issued.

JSOC Law(พ.ร.บ.มาตรการป้องกันการกระทำความผิดซ้ำในความผิดเกี่ยวกับเพศ หรือที่ใช้ความรุนแรง พ.ศ. 2565)

A law used to monitor high-risk offenders after release to prevent recidivism.

Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act 2022(พ.ร.บ.ป้องกันและปราบปรามการทรมาน และการกระทำให้บุคคลสูญหาย พ.ศ.2565)

A law designed to protect citizens' rights and prevent state officials from abusing power.

Narcotics Code(ประมวลกฎหมายยาเสพติด)

A law shifting drug problem-solving toward targeting financiers and major networks.

Dispute Mediation Act 2019(พ.ร.บ.การไกล่เกลี่ยข้อพิพาท พ.ศ. 2562)

A law enabling civil and certain criminal disputes to be settled outside of court.