22-12-2023 (BANGKOK) Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is seriously ill and will continue to receive treatment at the Police General Hospital beyond the initial 120 days, according to Justice Minister Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong. He emphasized that Thaksin’s hospitalization followed existing regulations and that no special treatment was provided.
Thaksin returned to Thailand on August 22 after spending 15 years in self-imposed exile abroad. His return was prompted by corruption charges related to his tenure as prime minister from February 2001 to September 2006.
Upon his arrival, Thaksin was transferred from Bangkok Remand Prison to the Police General Hospital for treatment of an undisclosed illness. Reports suggest that he has been staying in a suite on the 14th floor of a hospital building with a view of the Royal Bangkok Sports Club.
Today (Dec 21) marks the 120th day of Thaksin’s hospital stay. According to regulations, if a prisoner requires extended hospitalization beyond 120 days, written confirmation from the director-general of the Corrections Department and the attending doctor is necessary.
In Parliament, the justice minister stated that he anticipated receiving the required documentation from the relevant authorities soon. He also confirmed that he had requested information from the director-general of the Corrections Department regarding the matter.
Tawee, who was tasked by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to address questions from opposition MP Chonthicha Jangrew of the Move Forward Party concerning Thaksin’s prolonged hospitalization, reiterated that the ex-premier was suffering from multiple ailments, including high blood pressure and acute coronary syndrome. However, he refrained from providing further details, citing legal restrictions on disclosing patients’ medical conditions.
The justice minister emphasized that Thaksin’s extended hospital stay was in strict accordance with prison rules and regulations. He stated that Thaksin was under close supervision by prison officials and that no visits were permitted.
“The treatment of any specific prisoner does not involve special privileges,” asserted the justice minister.
Thaksin is considered the patriarch of the ruling Pheu Thai Party and is also the father of its leader, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who assumed the role in late October. Paetongtarn is among Pheu Thai’s candidates for prime minister, alongside PM Srettha, who secured majority support from Parliament on the same day Thaksin returned to Thailand, becoming the country’s 30th prime minister.
Meanwhile, Democrat MP Chaichana Detdacho, who chairs the House of Representatives committee on police affairs, announced that committee members would seek to ascertain whether Thaksin was indeed staying at the Police General Hospital. The committee plans to visit the hospital on January 12 for an “educational visit” to learn about the treatment of inmates.
“As part of the educational tour, we need to visit all the floors. The Police Hospital will determine which areas we can access to alleviate public suspicion,” Chaichana explained.
When asked about the possibility of his committee members being denied entry to Thaksin’s suite, the opposition MP responded, “The hospital authorities must provide an explanation to the public if access is denied.”
