Thaksin might be detained in hospital or nursing home instead of prison: Academic

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

DEPOSED PRIME MINISTER Thaksin Shinawatra might probably be detained in a hospital or nursing home instead of being imprisoned in jail after he has returned home from self-exile abroad, according to a noted academic.

Thanaporn Sriyakul, head of Kasetsart University’s Political Science Association, remarked that Thaksin who has earlier offered to put himself behind bars immediately after he has returned home from 16 years of self-exile overseas might probably be taken care of by a Pheu Thai-led coalition government following the May 14 general election to the extent that he be practically detained at a certain place such as a hospital or nursing home instead of a prison where he would otherwise serve a 10-year term due to a few convicted lawsuits.

That Thaksin has made a surprise by offering to return home and go straight into jail was primarily a desperate ploy to woo popularity for the Pheu Thai which has repeatedly heralded a landslide victory in the nationwide election, according to the Kasetsart academic.

In 2020, the Corrections Department has issued regulations for the detainment of convicted inmates outside of prisons and such leniency could possibly be provided by the future Pheu Thai government for Thaksin, invariably viewed as de facto Pheu Thai boss.

The department is under control of the Ministry of Justice of which Sam Mit group leader Somsak Thepsuthin who has skipped over from the Palang Pracharath to the Pheu Thai had earlier taken charge.

Upon his planned return to this country, Thaksin might be first of all taken to a prison where he would be put behind bars for a short period of time before being transferred to a hospital or nursing home and then he might probably be given a pardon and freedom after he has served one-third of the 10-year term as earlier convicted by court, Thanaporn said.

The recent event in which Thaksin has publicly offered to put himself behind bars upon his planned homecoming some time this year was merely a desperate ploy of the de facto Pheu Thai boss to woo popularity for his party during a current run-up to the May 14 election, Thanaporn commented.

Thaksin may have feared the Pheu Thai landslide victory which he himself had predicted and boasted over would not come true, prompting him to come up with the surprise offer to put himself behind bars upon his planned homecoming, Thanaporn said.

Since last year Thaksin has repeated his homecoming vow for more than a dozen times without doing so.

During a recent interview with Kyodo News in Tokyo, Thaksin said he would rather prefer to spend the rest of his life with his grandchildren and other family members after he has served his time in jail. Yet, he stopped short of saying how soon within this year he will come back.

CAPTION:

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, above, and with his daughter Paetongtarn in Hong Kong last December, Front Page. Above photo: Matichon, Front Page photo: Thai Rath

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