Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was fully aware of the true health condition of her father, former prime minister Thaksin, and that he was not sick at all when he was admitted to the 14th floor of the Police General Hospital for six months, without having to spend one day behind bars, said People’s Party MP Rangsiman Rome during the censure debate.
His eight-year sentence was ultimately reduced to just one year, by virtue of the Royal commutation.
He also accused the prime minister of being the key player in the making of a so-called “devil’s deal” for Thaksin’s safe return to Thailand, after more than 15 years of living in self-imposed exile abroad, in a trade-off with the “old power clique” to enable them a share of power in the Pheu Thai-led government.
In the censure debate, targeting the prime minister, Rangsiman said that the “devil’s deal”, made in Malaysia’s Langkawi, culminated in the collapse of the rule of law and judicial system in Thailand, because the national interest was traded for the vested interests of the Shinawatra family.
The People’s Party MP raised several issues pertaining to Thaksin’s health. Quoting an audio clip, in which the prime minister told the media that Thaksin was in good health and had regular medical check-ups, he asked why the former prime minister had to be admitted to the Police General Hospital for six months.
He claimed that, normally, patients are only allowed to stay up to ten days.
When Thaksin returned to Thailand, on August 22nd, 2023, Rangsiman said he looked perfectly healthy, as he greeted his well-wishers.
Although Paetongtarn was not prime minister at the time of her father’s return, he said she was head of the Pheu Thai Party “family”, and was instrumental in election campaigning and supportive of working with parties in General Prayut administration in the formation of the Pheu Thai-led government.
He also noted that the director of the Police General Hospital was later promoted to assistant commissioner-general, during the administration of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
