31-8-2023 (BANGKOK) Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam stated on Wednesday that he could not definitively confirm or dismiss whether former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has officially submitted an application for a royal pardon. In his capacity as the caretaker justice minister, Mr. Wissanu clarified that he has yet to receive the application.
“The royal pardon application has not reached me yet. And I can’t say if it has been submitted because I really don’t know,” he stated.
Thaksin’s lawyer, Winyat Chartmontree, announced on Tuesday that the necessary documents to support the royal pardon application were being prepared for Thaksin. The former prime minister is currently facing eight years in prison across three cases, including the Shin Corp shares case, the two- and three-digit lottery scheme case, and the Exim Bank loan case.
Typically, an inmate submits a royal pardon application to the prison warden, who then forwards it to the Department of Corrections, Mr. Wissanu explained. The department is responsible for reviewing the application and potentially forwarding it to the justice minister, who would then request the prime minister’s submission for royal approval.
When asked whether Thaksin’s royal pardon application would be received by outgoing Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha or newly elected Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, Mr. Wissanu stated that if the application were to reach him now, he would forward it to Gen Prayut, the caretaker prime minister. However, once the new cabinet assumes office, Mr. Srettha would receive the royal pardon application.
In a separate development, political activist Srisuwan Janya has filed a petition with the Ombudsman, requesting an investigation into alleged preferential treatment given to Thaksin by state officials.
“Since Thaksin returned to Thailand on August 22 after years of self-imposed exile abroad, he has been offered special treatment as if he were an important person, when in reality, he is a fugitive,” Mr. Srisuwan stated.
He has urged the Office of the Ombudsman to examine the conduct of all state officials involved in providing privileges to Thaksin, including those at the Royal Thai Police, Department of Corrections, and Police General Hospital. “From the moment he arrived at Don Mueang airport up until now, Thaksin is being treated as if he were a god,” Mr. Srisuwan added.
Watanyoo Thipayamonta, deputy secretary-general of the Office of the Ombudsman, assured that the petition would be thoroughly examined to ensure fairness to all parties involved.
