Corrections Department denies Thaksin to leave prison for public works, cites eligibility conditions
Department of Corrections confirms former PM Thaksin Shinawatra remains in prison; not eligible for community service due to inmate classification rules.
The Department of Corrections has denied reports that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra would be assigned as a foreman for sewer cleaning at Klong Prem Central Prison.
During a television interview on Friday, Pol Lt-Col Chen Kanchanapat, Deputy Director-General of the Corrections Department, stated that the reports were false. While Thaksin meets the criteria for good behaviour and has served a portion of his sentence, he remains a medium-grade prisoner. Only high-grade prisoners are eligible to participate in community service projects. The upgrade to high-grade status will require three to four months of consideration, he said.
Chen clarified that Thaksin’s case cannot be compared to that of singer Seksan “Sek Loso” Sukpimai, who performed for border communities. Seksan’s project was for public benefit rather than personal gain, he said, adding that participation in community service affects sentence reduction, but such projects are exceptional and require approval from the Corrections Director-General.
Chen emphasised that prisoners cannot leave the facility freely, even under exceptional projects, and not every case qualifies. Therefore, Thaksin has not left prison.
On September 25, Kanokwan Jiewchuaphan, Director of Nonthaburi Prison and Deputy Spokeswoman for the Department, confirmed that Thaksin had expressed his willingness to help with public works (such as sewer cleaning) to benefit the department.
Kanokwan outlined the eligibility conditions for prisoners to participate in public work:
- Must be a high-grade or higher inmate, with a maximum sentence of three years and at least one-third served (at least four months served for one-year sentence)
- Must be serving a first-time sentence.
- Must consider the circumstances, nature, and severity of the offence.
- Must account for age, history, behaviour, health, and physical fitness.
Thaksin entered prison on September 9, 2025 and has not yet completed four months, meaning he does not currently meet the conditions to participate in public service.
