Bangkok [Thailand], September 27: Thailand's Department of Corrections confirmed that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is currently in prison, voluntarily participated in community service, and was not assigned as previously reported.
On September 25, former Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra - Thaksin's daughter - said that after visiting her father at Klong Prem Central Prison, she was informed that he would be assigned to supervise the cleaning of sewers outside the prison, according to Thai PBS World.
Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra also shared that her father's health is stable. In the coming time, Mr. Thaksin 's grandchildren can contact him via video call.If approved, the assignment would allow Mr. Thaksin to leave prison during working hours under the supervision of prison officials. However, Mr. Thaksin would supervise sewer cleaning teams instead of personally scooping trash and mud out of roadside drains, according to the South China Morning Post .
Ms. Kanokwan Jiewchueaphan, deputy spokeswoman of the Thai Department of Corrections , affirmed that this mission was entirely based on Mr. Thaksin's proposal and has not yet been approved or scheduled.
"Mr. Thaksin expressed his wish to contribute to public works for the benefit of the Department of Corrections," Ms. Kanokwan said.
However, the question is whether Mr. Thaksin meets the requirements of the prison. According to the regulations, prisoners who want to participate in community service must have a sentence of no more
than 3 years, have served at least 1/3 of the sentence, be a first-time offender, have good conduct, and be assessed based on the nature and severity of the crime.
Mr. Thaksin has now served less than a month of a one-year prison sentence for corruption and abuse of power.
Ms Kanokwan said if an inmate meets all the conditions, the prison management can recommend to the Internal Committee, before the file is submitted to the Central Committee of the Thai Department of Corrections for final review.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
