Justice Minister Rutthapon Naowarat admitted today that he had received a summary report from the Corrections Department’s fact-finding committee, confirming that some influential Chinese inmates of the Bangkok Remand Prison had sex with women, who were brought in from the outside, in a room beneath a staircase in the prison.
He said that, throughout his career in government service, he has never seen such malpractice, adding that it is totally unacceptable to him, as well as to the public, as it is a subversion of the justice system.
He promised a full investigation into the matter and criminal and disciplinary actions against all who are proved to have abused the system, adding that the probe will be extended to the previous commanders of the prison.
The justice minister will accompany the fact-finding committee and officials of the Corrections Department to inspect the Bangkok Remand Prison on Saturday. He said he will have to consult the Corrections Department first as to whether it is possible for members of the media to join the inspection trip.
Fourteen prison officials, including the prison commander, Manop Chomchuen, were removed from the prison yesterday, by order of the director-general of the Corrections Department.
The scandal came to light following an unannounced raid on the prison on Sunday by corrections officials, in which several prohibited items, such as microwave ovens, mobile air-conditioner, lighters and other electrical appliances, were found in the cells of wealthy Chinese prisoners.
All the Chinese prisoners involved have been moved to other zones in the prison.
Yutthana Nakreungsri, deputy director-general of the Corrections Department, led officials in a raid of Zone 8 of the prison today, which accommodates about 900 prisoners.
In his capacity as acting commander of the Bangkok Remand Prison, he said the officials searched a closed workshop today, which used to provide vocational training to inmates but which was recently accommodating Chinese prisoners.
The team also searched the prison’s kitchen, after complaints from Thai prisoners that they were not being given sufficient food, unlike the Chinese inmates.
A full report on the search of the two facilities will be released to the media later, said Yutthana.
