BANGKOK, Aug 22 — Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was given an eight-year prison sentence today, can seek a royal pardon and the process might take one to two months, said the Department of Corrections' Deputy Director-General Sitthi Sutivong.
He said upon arriving in prison, Thaksin applied for a royal pardon.
“The process can take one to two, depending on the number of sufficient documents you submit,” Sitthi said at a press conference earlier today.
The application for the royal pardon will be submitted to a committee of the Corrections Department.
“The committee will hand it to the Justice Ministry, and then the prime minister will forward it for consideration by the Privy Council,” he said.
Earlier today, the Supreme Court sentenced Thaksin to eight years in prison after his return to the kingdom from a 15-year self-imposed exile. He was later taken to the Bangkok Remand Prison.
Meanwhile, the department Director-General Ayuth Sintoppant said Thaksin is being closely monitored for his health conditions, including heart and lung problems, hypertension, degenerative spine, and herniated discs.
The ex-premier is placed in a private room in the medical ward at the Bangkok Remand Prison, and he will meet family members on the fifth day.
— Bernama
