Somsak denies prison regulation favors and clarifies Lao Ta's sentence

Matichon•Politics•4d ago

Reader Briefing

Former Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin denied allegations that he issued ministerial regulations to benefit specific individuals.

•Somsak Thepsutin clarified that prison regulations regarding elderly inmates were based on existing laws and royal decrees predating his term.
•Somsak Thepsutin stated that Lao Ta still had 17 years, 8 months, and 13 days of imprisonment remaining as of March 17, 2023.
•The former minister cited COVID-19 and prison overcrowding as critical contexts for managing pardons between 2020 and 2021.

Overview

•Somsak Thepsutin denied that the ministerial regulations issued during his tenure were designed to favor any specific person.
•Somsak Thepsutin served as the Minister of Justice from July 10, 2019, to March 17, 2023.
•Somsak Thepsutin stated that the 70-year-old inmate criteria originated from past royal pardons and had existed since at least 1987.
•Somsak Thepsutin mentioned that prison overcrowding and the COVID-19 pandemic, including riots in Buriram and Krabi prisons, influenced sentencing management in 2020-2021.
•Somsak Thepsutin confirmed Lao Ta did not benefit from the Royal Decree on Pardons 2022.
•Somsak Thepsutin reported that asset seizures increased from 790 million baht in 2020 to 21,610 million baht in 2023.
•Somsak Thepsutin pushed for the enactment of 9 important laws, including the JSOC law and the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act 2022.

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Key Quotes

Somsak Thepsutin

"Whichever ministry I enter, I intend to work to the fullest. You can criticize me, investigate me, and question me fully."

ผมเข้าไปกระทรวงไหน ผมตั้งใจทำงานเต็มที่ วิจารณ์ผมได้ ตรวจสอบผมได้ และตั้งคำถามกับผมได้เต็มที่

Key Entities

Person

Somsak Thepsutin(สมศักดิ์ เทพสุทิน)

Former Minister of Justice who denied allegations of favoring individuals through prison regulations.

Lao Ta(เล่าต๋า)

An inmate who had 17 years, 8 months, and 13 days of sentence remaining as of March 17, 2023.

Ai Pong(ไอ้ป๋อง)

An individual subject to a 2-year post-release surveillance measure under the JSOC law.

Organization

Ministry of Justice(กระทรวงยุติธรรม)ℹ️

The ministry where Somsak Thepsutin served as minister.

Department of Corrections(กรมราชทัณฑ์)ℹ️

The agency responsible for drafting prison regulations and managing inmates.

Place

Buriram Provincial Prison(เรือนจำจังหวัดบุรีรัมย์)

A prison location that experienced a riot and fire on March 29, 2020.

Krabi Provincial Prison(เรือนจำจังหวัดกระบี่)

A prison location that experienced protests, riots, and fire between December 16-17, 2021.

Law

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

The primary law under which Somsak Thepsutin issued secondary ministerial regulations.

Act on Measures to Prevent Repeat Offenses in Sexual or Violent Crimes 2022 (JSOC Law)(พ.ร.บ.มาตรการป้องกันการกระทำความผิดซ้ำในความผิดเกี่ยวกับเพศหรือที่ใช้ความรุนแรง พ.ศ. 2565)

A law used to monitor and surveil serious offenders after their release.

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

A key law pushed for success during Somsak Thepsutin's tenure.

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

A law allowing people to use mediation processes for civil and some criminal cases.

Royal Decree on Pardons 2022(พระราชกฤษฎีกาพระราชทานอภัยโทษ พ.ศ. 2565)

A royal decree requiring inmates to serve at least one-third of their sentence or 8 years to qualify for a pardon.