Imprisoned former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra could serve as an English teacher for fellow inmates, according to Pol Lt Col Prawut Wongseenin, director-general of the Department of Corrections.
He said the 76-year-old former premier is likely to be assigned to an education programme, such as teaching English to inmates, rather than doing physical labour, given his age, when asked about the possibility of Thaksin taking part in community service.
Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn, also a former prime minister, recently suggested that her father might be assigned to oversee a drain cleaning project, but prison officials said he had not been behind bars long enough to qualify for outside work.
Pol Lt Col Prawut said it is still unclear when a work assignment could begin, as it must proceed in accordance with prison regulations.
He declined to comment on Thaksin’s application for a second royal pardon, saying only that it would follow legal procedures. Both the current justice minister and his predecessor reportedly have vetoed the idea.
A Corrections Department source said that inmates seeking sentence suspension generally must serve at least two-thirds of their sentence, but those aged over 70 can apply after doing at least one-third of their time, or six months, whichever is longer.
Such applications are reviewed by a committee that meets once a month, the source said, adding that the regulations involving sentence suspension apply to all inmates.