Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat has reaffirmed the stance of his predecessor, Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, who supported the Department of Corrections’ recommendation to reject the royal pardon appeal submitted on behalf of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The decision means Thaksin will be required to remain in prison to serve out a one-year prison sentence in accordance with the Supreme Court’s final ruling, a source said.
The reports came as Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon stated on Monday that he had already submitted his opinion on Thaksin’s second petition for royal pardon to the Cabinet Secretariat.
Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon said that he had instructed the permanent secretary for justice to form a committee to review Thaksin’s request and finish its work in three days.
He stated that he received the findings from the review committee on Monday and had added advisory remarks before referring the matter to the Cabinet Secretariat for further action.
According to the justice minister, when a convict seeks a royal pardon, the matter must be referred to His Majesty through the proper channels, as outlined in Section 259 of the Criminal Procedure Code.