Thawee Dismisses Claims of Easing Yingluck’s Return to Thailand.

Bangkok: Pol. Col. Thawee Sodsong, the Minister of Justice, has firmly denied allegations that he is facilitating the return of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to Thailand by suspending sentences for individuals involved in the rice pledging scheme. He emphasized that Yingluck's return can only occur through the legal system, with no special arrangements in place. According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Col. Thawee stated that should Ms. Yingluck wish to re-enter the country, she must report to the court as part of a legal procedure that may involve detention and a legal battle. He reiterated that there would be no exceptions unless specific circumstances, such as illness, warranted special treatment, but noted that not everyone could claim sickness as a reason. Pol. Col. Thawee also clarified that any requests for pardons must strictly adhere to the Penal Code, underscoring that legal channels are the sole means of re-entering Thailand. When questioned about the potential differences between Ms. Ying luck's case and that of her brother, Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, particularly regarding parole eligibility, he stated that no coordination with the Ministry of Justice had taken place on this matter. He maintained that all individuals must abide by the law and factual circumstances. Addressing concerns that the suspension of sentences in the rice pledging scheme might be seen as paving the way for Ms. Yingluck's return, Pol. Gen. Thawee refuted these claims. He highlighted that sentence suspensions involved approximately 1,000 individuals, including those convicted of drug offenses. The Department of Corrections currently prioritizes preventing recidivism among released prisoners, noting alarming statistics of repeat offenses, with nearly 17% in the first year and almost 40% by the third year, contrasting with less than 9% among those on probation. He stressed the importance of community and societal involvement in supporting former prisoners.