Justice Minister Rutthapon Naowarat told the media today that he has already submitted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s petition for a Royal pardon to the Office of the Secretary-General of the Cabinet for consideration.
He said that the ad hoc panel, formed by the justice permanent secretary, had already looked into the legal aspects of Thaksin’s petition and had returned the matter to him with its recommendation for how the case should proceed.
He declined, however, to disclose the panel’s recommendation, whether the petition should be dropped or not, claiming that it is confidential and cannot be disclosed to the public.
Nevertheless, he said that his responsibility is to return Thaksin’s petition to the office, together with his recommendation, in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code.
His predecessor, Tawee Sodsong, had earlier rejected Thaksin’s petition for a Royal pardon.
Several legal experts have voiced their objections to Thaksin’s petition, claiming that it could not be approved because he has already been granted a Royal commutation, when his sentence was commuted from eight years to just one.
Furthermore, his imprisonment had not been enforced by the Corrections Department, until the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Office ordered Thaksin returned to prison on September 9th.
According to legal procedure, the petition will be submitted to the Office of the Privy Council, which will screen it before it is forwarded, or not, for Royal assent.
