Thailand Justice Minister revises pardon rules after drug offender release

Thailand's Minister of Justice, Pol. Lt. Gen. Ruthapol Naowarat, has acknowledged flaws in the existing pardon regulations following public outcry over the release of Lao Ta Saenlee. Saenlee, an 85-year-old major drug offender previously sentenced to life imprisonment, had his sentence reduced to eight years before being granted a royal pardon and released from Bang Khwang Central Prison on August 14.

The Minister stated that while correctional officers likely followed existing protocols, the regulations themselves contained inadequacies. To address this, the Ministry of Justice has established a working group to review and revise pardon criteria to prevent similar issues in the future. Additionally, the Department of Corrections has been ordered to clarify the specific procedures used for prisoner reviews and pardon proposals.

Regarding the possibility of re-evaluating Saenlee's case, the Minister confirmed that the legal process is considered finalized and cannot be retroactively overturned. The new committee's mandate is strictly to improve future decision-making standards. The Minister also noted that age was a factor in the sentencing reductions, addressing public comparisons between the treatment of foreign and Thai offenders.