Bangkok: Pol. Gen. Ruttapol Naowarat, Minister of Justice, has acknowledged the problematic procedures surrounding the release of Mr. Laota Saenli, a former high-profile drug offender. "Ruttaphol" recognized the issues in the regulations used to release "Lao Ta" and announced plans to establish a working group to investigate and improve these regulations. He stressed that the punishment cannot be overturned as the case is considered closed and expressed confidence in his ability to address any opposition concerns.
According to Thai News Agency, the controversy stems from the release of the 85-year-old Mr. Laota Saenli, who was initially sentenced to life imprisonment but had his sentence reduced to 8 years. He received a royal pardon and was released from Bang Kwang Central Prison on August 14th, sparking public criticism and calls for a committee to investigate and possibly reopen the case. The Minister of Justice noted the decision's impact and has taken steps to address the concerns: instructing the Department of Corrections to clarify the process and proposing a royal pardon, as well as setting up a working group to review and revise the criteria for pardons.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Ruttapol clarified that the current committee was not intended to reconsider the punishment, as the case has already been closed. Instead, the committee aims to improve future case proceedings. He emphasized that the release followed old regulations in place since Mr. Lao Ta's detention in 2016, although some aspects were found inappropriate. The working group will conduct further investigations to guide future actions.
In response to public inquiries, Pol. Gen. Ruttapol assured that the Department of Corrections has already explained that matters related to parole fall under the Pardon Committee's discretion, adhering to the regulations at the time. He indicated that if regulations were not followed, responsible officials on the Pardon Committee would face consequences.
Addressing whether the error was procedural or regulatory, Pol. Gen. Ruttapol attributed it to procedural issues. He noted that since 2020, he had requested the Department of Corrections to clarify the regulations, particularly concerning the period when the pardon request was submitted for Mr. Lao Ta.
When questioned about the apparent discrepancy in Mr. Lao Ta's case receiving a harsher punishment, despite following regulations, Pol. Gen. Ruttapol cited age as a factor. He committed to further investigation and mentioned the need for official document verification by the Department of Corrections before submission to the Ministry of Justice.
Regarding concerns about a potential no-confidence debate by the opposition, Pol. Gen. Ruttapol expressed confidence that the matter would not escalate, as there was no intention of corruption and all actions were in accordance with regulations. He prepared detailed explanations and remains committed to making necessary corrections.