Key justice posts have Thaksin links

After the transfer orders take effect on October 1, Suchart Wong-anantachai will be the new Corrections Department director-general, a position with the authority to seek a pardon for Thaksin, who was convicted to two years in jail in 2008 in connection with a 2003 land purchase by his then wife. Thaksin has not returned to the country since his conviction.

Such a pardon could be granted through a major amnesty scheme later this year to mark His Majesty the King's 84th birthday.

Suchart handled a party-dissolution case against the Democrats in connection with the TPI company when he was a deputy head of the Department of Special Investigation, before being transferred to the Information and Communications Technology Ministry as an inspector-general during the Abhisit Vejjajiva government.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, speaking after the Cabinet meeting, said the Justice Ministry would have to field any questions as to whether Suchart was being made the Corrections Department chief to help secure a pardon for Thaksin. She declined to comment on the matter herself.

Former Senate Speaker Ukrit Mongkolnawin is the chairman of a new independent body on national justice reform, which will "take a look at legal enforcement under the rule of law", according to the order appointing him.

Seehanart Prayoonrat, acting secretary-general at the Anti-Money Laundering Office, will head this powerful office.

Seehanart was indicted by the National Anti-Corruption Commis-sion for unlawfully inspecting the assets of non-governmental organisations and 200 politicians during one of Thaksin's administrations, but was eventually pardoned in an amnesty marking the King's 80th birthday four years ago.

Deputy national police chief Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew will be acting Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) secretary-general for one year, with a view to putting in place the anti-drug operations promised by Yingluck's government. Adul said he expected no resistance from ONCB officials, as many active police officers had in the past served as its chief without any problems.

The Cabinet also approved reshuffles at the Tourism and Sports, Transport and Agriculture ministries, besides promoting Chattraphong Chattrakhon to be the new deputy director of National Intelligence Agency. It also agreed on a number of political appointees. Among them is Pasit Sakdanarong, former secretary to the Constitution Court who was dismissed for involvement in a scandal that tarnished the judiciary's public image. He is being made an adviser to the Public Health Ministry, along with three others.

Pasit had secretly filmed conversations among judges and leaked the clips, which were later used by Pheu Thai to smear the judiciary for unfair verdicts against the then-Thai Rak Thai and People Power parties. He fled the country, before later joining in the red-shirt rallies.

Rights and Liberties Protection Department chief Suwanna Sara-jootha is promoted to the post of deputy permanent secretary. She dismissed reports suggesting her transfer had resulted from her dismay at being criticised for being slow in seeking the release of red shirts from prison, saying that it was the courts that would permit their release.

In the reshuffle, Suphattra Thanaseniwat will be the new Agriculture Ministry permanent secretary, with Suwat Sitthilor set to hold a similar post at the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

At the Transport Ministry, Worradej Harnprasert is the new Civil Aviation Department chief and Somchai Sirichoke is the new Land Transport Department head.