PUBLISHED : 24 Aug 2023 at 05:00
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is not being given preferential treatment in a VIP hospital room as has been reported by the media, says Pol Lt Gen Dr Sophonrat Singhajaru, the chief physician of the Police General Hospital, which is treating him.
“It isn’t a VIP room and people in that room cannot even see the outside. Furthermore, the air in this room is hot as the air-conditioning doesn’t work well,” he added.
Pol Lt Gen Dr Sophonrat was responding to media reports that Thaksin had been given a private room, Royal Suite 1401, on the 14th floor of the Maha Bhumibol Rachanusorn 88 Phansa Building.
Thaksin returned to Thailand on Tuesday after 17 years in exile to serve a total of eight years in prison.
He was transferred from Bangkok Remand Prison to the Police General Hospital at 12.20am yesterday.
Deputy director-general of the Department of Corrections (DoC) Sitthi Sutivong said a warder at the prison had reported that Thaksin could not sleep, had chest pains, hypertension and low blood oxygen while he was in quarantine in zone 7 of the prison.
A doctor at the Corrections Hospital reviewed Thaksin’s symptoms and considered his medical treatment records from overseas hospitals, which said he had underlying illnesses including ischemic cardiomyopathy, hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis and spondylosis. Ischemic cardiomyopathy requires special observation.
As the Corrections Hospital lacked some medical equipment, the doctor decided to transfer Thaksin to the Police General Hospital, which was better equipped, for his safety.
Transferals of prisoners to the Police General Hospital are lawful and in accordance with a memorandum of understanding the Department of Corrections signed with the police on May 1, 2020.
In a Facebook post, political activist Srisuwan Janya said he will petition the National-Anti Corruption Commission to inspect whether the DoC is giving Thaksin better treatment than other inmates.
Mr Srisuwan asked why he had seemed healthy in Dubai, as portrayed by his daughter Paetongtarn on social media, but immediately fell ill upon his return.