30-12-2023 (BANGKOK) The House committee on police affairs is expecting to gain access to convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra during an upcoming inspection of Police General Hospital on January 12. Committee chairman Chaichana Detdecho, who is also a Democrat Party MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat, stated on Friday that he will lead the committee’s efforts to assess the standard of medical care provided to prisoners treated at the facility.
“We will examine the living quarters of the prisoners and inspect the standards and procedures for detaining inmates outside of prison at the hospital. We will inspect every floor of the hospital building. However, it will be up to the hospital to decide to what extent the committee will be allowed access to alleviate public concerns,” Mr. Chaichana said, referring to criticisms that Thaksin is receiving “VIP medical treatment” outside of prison at the hospital.
“If the hospital denies permission to the committee, it must provide an explanation to the public,” Mr. Chaichana added. Thaksin has not commented on his extended stay at the hospital.
Mr. Chaichana also dismissed legal threats against the committee if they visit Thaksin, stating that the committee has sought permission for the visit. “It is now up to the Department of Corrections [DoC] and the Royal Thai Police,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin previously cautioned that members of the House committee on police affairs who plan to inspect the 14th floor of Police General Hospital may face legal action from Thaksin or his family unless they obtain permission.
“Not everyone has the right to visit an inmate receiving medical treatment outside of prison. This is not about concealing information, but it is about regulation. The inmate decides who is allowed to visit,” Mr. Somsak explained.
“Thaksin will not be allowed to receive medical treatment outside of prison forever. It depends on the recommendation of his doctors,” Mr. Somsak added.
Despite reaching the maximum allowed 120 days of inpatient care on December 22, Thaksin has been permitted by the Department of Corrections (DoC) to continue staying at Police General Hospital.
The inspection comes amid criticism of a new regulation issued by the DoC, which allows eligible inmates to be detained outside of prison. Critics argue that the regulation was specifically tailored to benefit the former prime minister.
Pol Col Sirikul Srisanga, spokeswoman of Police General Hospital, previously stated that the 14th floor of the hospital building, where Thaksin is residing, was designated as a detention area for the convicted inmate as ordered by the court. She added that it is also a security area supervised by the DoC under the Corrections Act.
Pol Col Sirikul further explained that the National Health Act mandates the confidentiality of personal health information and prohibits its disclosure in a manner that could cause harm, unless consent is given by the individual.
On December 6, the DoC introduced the new regulation in accordance with the Corrections Act (2017). Under this regulation, prisoners must meet specific requirements set by the DoC to be eligible for detention outside of prison. They must also undergo categorization by a screening panel established by the department. The designated venues for their detention may include registered residential addresses or buildings.
Thaksin, 74, returned to Thailand on August 22 after 15 years of self-imposed exile. He was sentenced to eight years in three cases, which were later commuted to one year through a royal pardon. However, on the same night, he was transferred from Bangkok Remand Prison to Police General Hospital due to health reasons and has remained there since.
Chaithawat Tulathon, leader of the Move Forward Party, expressed concerns on Friday about Thaksin’s medical treatment at the hospital. “The new regulation has raised suspicions among people regarding whether it benefits someone with political influence,” Mr. Chaithawat said. “The government should prevent the Thaksin issue from escalating into a crisis of faith among the people and address it promptly. The best approach is for the government to step forward and provide an explanation to dispel any doubts about Thaksin’s treatment at the hospital and the rule allowing his detention outside of prison,” he added.
