PUBLISHED : 28 Aug 2023 at 04:30
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra can seek a royal pardon, according to a corrections authority. However, opponents object to him making such a request due to his open lese majeste case.
Nastee Thongplad, chief of Bangkok Remand Prison, yesterday said Thaksin, like all convicts, has the right to seek a royal pardon but his relatives must present adequate reasons to back the request.
He said a petition for a royal pardon begins at the prison and is then forwarded to the Department of Corrections.
Afterwards, the petition will go to the Justice Ministry, the cabinet secretariat and the Office of His Majesty the King’s Principal Private Secretary, which will propose it for royal consideration, he said.
There is a form for applying for a royal pardon and a petitioner will need to present other documents to show the petitioner’s past contributions and medical treatment records, he said.
He said that up to 10 visitors will be allowed to see Thaksin at the Police General Hospital from today onwards.
Meanwhile, the Thakpakdee Party said it objects to Thaksin applying for a royal pardon because he has yet to be tried over his lese majeste case.
According to the party, the army accused Thaksin of violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese majeste law.
The Criminal Court accepted the case for trial in 2015 and issued an arrest warrant for Thaksin but he did not appear at the court as ordered, the party said.
Thaksin returned to the country on Aug 22 following 15 years of self-imposed exile. The Supreme Court has ordered him to serve eight years in jail for his finalised legal cases.
During the first night of his stay at Bangkok Remand Prison he was transferred to the Police General Hospital. The management at the Police General Hospital have denied that authorities did Thaksin a favour or that he is getting special treatment.