PUBLISHED: 7 Dec 2024 at 05: 05
The Ministry of Justice has denied that any person, particularly former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, should been permitted to be freed on probation and kept in their homes.
Somboon Muangklam, an adviser to Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong and Department of Corrections ( DoC ) officials, gave an interview on Friday about the DoC’s regulation regarding out-of-prison detention.
According to Mr. Somboon, like a regulation was never intended to benefit any particular person.
He claimed that the DoC’s news to allow for the release of prisoners from jail was made in 2023 in an effort to reduce prison overcrowding. He claimed that original instructions for its implementation came after the announcement.
When questioned about whether Yingluck, a fugitive since August 2017, may be eligible for these regulations, Mr. Somboon replied that he could not respond because the guidelines were still in its early stages and had not yet been approved.
He claimed that it was early to comment on certain cases because upcoming decisions must be delayed until the official regulations are made public.
He said it was probable, in line with debate about the regulation’s preparation by the first third of the following year, which coincides with former top Thaksin Shinawatra before saying his girlfriend might profit around the Songkran Festival.
However, Mr Somboon could not tell when Yingluck would return, only saying, “]The process of finalising the regulations ] is nearly finished”.
He also acknowledged that there were questions raised by the general public about whether Yingluck could avoid jail like her nephew, Thaksin. In reply, he said Thaksin was incarcerated while serving time in the Police General Hospital, which is officially recognised as confinement.
He claimed that all government officials must hold themselves accountable for their actions, adding that the National Anti-Corruption Commission ( NACC ) is currently looking into the Thaksin case to find out if there were any irregularities.
People views on the rules are being heard until December 17, according to DoC representative Kanokwan Jiewcheauphan.
If 90 % of the public displays dispute, then revisions will be needed, she said.