Law change will help poor people who face lesser charges
The Cabinet on Tuesday approved an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act to allow those charged with offences punishable by less than 10 years in prison to get a temporary release without having to post bail in a bid to tackle crowded prison.
Suspects for the offences punishable with 5-9 years in jail must fulfill other requirements ordered by the court, such as reporting regularly to court officials, while those with offences punishable with more than a 10-year jail term must post a bail deposit, Government Spokesperson Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd added.
Previously those facing charges punishable by more than a five-year jail term needed to post a bail deposit, prompting many to lament that “only poor people [who cannot afford bail deposit] are jailed, while rich people stay away from remand prisons”.
