The Corrections Department has released Apichart Chansakulporn, a former top executive of Siam Indica Company, and placed him on probation under the department’s imprisonment suspension program.
Apichart was sentenced to 48 years in prison after he was found guilty of corruption, related to the rice pledging scheme of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
He and the Siam Indica Company were also ordered by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders to pay the state 16.9 billion baht in compensation for the massive losses incurred.
Additionally, he was sentenced to 50 years in prison for corruption in connection with the government’s ‘Uah Arthorn’ housing project and ordered to pay 1.3 billion baht in compensation.
In a press release, issued yesterday, the Corrections Department said that Apichart had served 12 years and one month in Khlong Prem prison by August 20th this year and, if serving his full sentence, would be released on July 27th, 2034.
The department went on to say that Apichart will serve the remainder of his sentence on probation, as part of the imprisonment suspension program, because he is suffering from multiple medical conditions, such as chronic kidney failure, hypertension, diabetes, benign prostate enlargement and obstructive sleep apnoea.
He is also classified as an outstanding inmate, the department added.
The department says that 40 other prisoners have also had their time in prison suspended for ‘special’ reasons, such as suffering from life-threatening diseases or being over 70 years of age, and have been released.
The Corrections Department’s explanation was in response to a complaint filed by former Democrat MP Watchara Petthong, questioning the early release of Apichart and whether he and his company had paid the 16.9 billion baht in compensation.
On Monday, former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, who was sentenced to 48 years in connection with the rice pledging scheme, was also released under the same imprisonment suspension program. He was originally to be released from prison on April 21, 2028.
