The Justice Ministry denied that new parole regulations benefit Yingluck Shinawatra, stating they aim to reduce prison overcrowding. Final guidelines are pending, amid public speculation regarding her potential return by Songkran.
The Ministry of Justice has clarified that new regulations allowing for house detention of prisoners are not intended to benefit individuals, including former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Somboon Muangklam, an adviser to the Justice Minister, emphasized that these changes were initiated in 2023 to address prison overcrowding.
In response to inquiries about Yingluck’s eligibility for these regulations, Somboon stated that it’s too early to comment, as the guidelines are still being finalized. He confirmed that the regulations could be complete by the first quarter of next year, aligning with speculations about Yingluck’s potential return during the Songkran Festival.
Concerns regarding the possibility of Yingluck avoiding imprisonment, similar to her brother Thaksin, were acknowledged. Somboon asserted that officials are accountable for their actions and that a National Anti-Corruption Commission investigation is ongoing. The Department of Corrections is currently collecting public feedback on this regulation until December 17, with potential revisions if there is significant disagreement.
