Ragsiman Rome says the general public is skeptical about claims that former prime minister’s hospital stays were justified by officers.
PUBLISHED: 14 Mar 2024 at 14: 58
An opposition MP claims that the public’s perception of Thaksin Shinawatra’s appearance while he is touring Chiang Mai has increased concern that he may have always been as poor as the authorities had suggested.
Rangsiman Rome of the Move Forward Party made the comment on Thursday as the ex-prime minister and inmate made his first three-day visit to the northwestern province where he was born.
After serving half of his one-year prison sentence, Thaksin’s first release was a result of his severe illness, which government officials cited as one of the justifications for their approval of the sentence.
Therefore, according to Mr. Rangsiman,” Thaksin is able to go to Chiang Mai days after leaving the hospital and days after returning residence.”
” Were we told lies by the federal?” … If Thaksin was not unwell, I think that … the state will then be held responsible”, he said.
Thaksin, 74, was discharged from Police General Hospital on the day of Feb 18. He had stayed there for six months, basically due to severe and life- threatening diseases.
His family posted a picture of him with a buckle on his chest and a rope on his right shoulder after his release. In the days that followed, those who saw him claimed he needed a wheelchair and could n’t walk on his own. They described him as being extremely poor and unable to communicate in a voice.
Because he is over 70 years old, had a serious illness, and was regarded as having spent at least six months of his prison term, Thaksin met the requirements for parole, according to administrative authorities.
Thaksin was taken back to the country on August 22, 2023, and given an eight-year sentence for violating the court’s rules and having conflicts of interest due to his election as president.
He was then taken to the Bangkok Remand Prison, but not long after nightfall, corrections officials moved him , to Police General Hospital, saying he needed present therapy equipment for many important conditions, including stomach pain, hypertension and lower blood oxygen.
His eight- time word was immediately reduced to one time by a , imperial pardon , in September 2023.
” If Thaksin was not ill, I think that … the state will then be held responsible”, says Move Forward Party MP Rangsiman Rome.