24-10-2023 (BANGKOK) The Department of Corrections issued an announcement on Monday, October 23, revealing that former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had undergone orthopedic surgery the previous morning. He is presently in recovery within the neurosurgical intensive care unit at the Police Hospital.
In response to this development, Department of Corrections director-general Sahakarn Phetnarin has directed the superintendent of Bangkok Remand Prison to closely monitor the situation and ensure the continuous medical care of Thaksin.
The department emphasized that, in previous cases, detainees have been transported for external medical treatment. This includes transfers between prison and hospital or extended stays due to various medical conditions. Between October 1 and October 24, there have been 149 instances of detainees requiring medical treatment beyond 30 days. Among these cases, 115 extended beyond 30 days, 30 exceeded 60 days, and 4 endured beyond 120 days.
Thaksin Shinawatra has been in the custody of Bangkok Remand Prison since August 22 of this year. His return to Thailand marked the end of his 15-year exile, during which he faced several charges. On the very first night of his incarceration, he was admitted to the Police Hospital for treatment of various illnesses.
Critics and anti-Thaksin groups have consistently called for an investigation into the validity of Thaksin’s reported illnesses.
