Thaksin Investigation Stalled by Legal Hurdles, Says NACC

[webfact]

File photo courtesy of Thai PBS

 

Thailand's National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has admitted that their investigation into how former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra allegedly managed to receive medical treatment at Police General Hospital (PGH) without standard prison detention is facing delays.

 

The slow pace of progress is attributed to limited access to crucial information, informed NACC Secretary-General Saroj Phungramphan on Sunday.

 

The NACC is tasked with scrutinising whether government officials improperly facilitated Thaksin’s extended hospital stay. The investigation comprises gathering evidence from site visits and witness testimonies while examining pertinent documents.

 

However, according to Saroj, legal barriers concerning information protection are significantly hampering these efforts. "Our team is required to follow legal procedures," he stated, adding that this necessity is inherently slowing down their proceedings.

 

When asked about the responsiveness of the Department of Corrections and PGH in providing necessary documentation, Saroj confirmed some documents had been received. However, there remains ambiguity over whether they meet the full requirements originally set out by the NACC.

 

 

 

Saroj elaborated that the evaluation of progress and adequacy of gathered evidence is at the discretion of the investigative team, stressing that the NACC does not set a threshold for when evidence is considered adequate for advancing the case.

 

The investigation aims to uncover whether Thaksin's occupancy of a privileged hospital ward, instead of a conventional prison cell, was facilitated by allies within government ranks.

 

Thaksin, initially sentenced to eight years in prison for multiple conviction cases, saw his term reduced to one year following royal clemency. Prior to serving his full term—concluding on 31st August of this year—he spent around six months housed in a well-appointed ward at PGH. He was paroled on 18th February, post-discharge from the hospital.

 

The NACC remains firm that once all evidence is obtained, they will either advance the case to the charging phase or conclude the inquiry by submitting the findings for further review. As the investigation lingers in procedural limbo, the Thai public and political observers continue to anticipate its outcome.

 

-- 2025-03-24

 

 

[Artisi]

Did anyone really expect it to be fast-tracked with any urgency? 

Nah! didn't think so. 

[Sierra Tango]

When asked about the responsiveness of the Department of Corrections and PGH in providing necessary documentation, Saroj confirmed some documents had been received. However, there remains ambiguity over whether they meet the full requirements originally set out by the NACC.

 

Translate as, not enough brown envelopes have been received.

[Geoffggi]

The truth is they are all S-it scared of upsetting him for one reason or another - Above the law? Ohhhh Yes!!!

[dinsdale]

Stalling tactics are most often used to protect the guilty.

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The investigation aims to uncover whether Thaksin's occupancy of a privileged hospital ward, instead of a conventional prison cell, was facilitated by allies within government ranks.

Higher up IMHO. It was all part of the prearranged deal.

[redwood1]

The worst thing that will come from this investigation is them saying " Yes we need to tighten up our policies and rules in the future"  Case closed...

[ozz1]

Nothing to see here move along what a joke of a system

[ikke1959]

They should change their name in the National Corruption Commission

[Artisi]

6 hours ago, Sierra Tango said:

When asked about the responsiveness of the Department of Corrections and PGH in providing necessary documentation, Saroj confirmed some documents had been received. However, there remains ambiguity over whether they meet the full requirements originally set out by the NACC.

 

Translate as, not enough brown envelopes have been received.

Absolutely nothing to do with brown envelopes, lunch boxes or expensive watches - it's all about  don't you known who I am, and what connections I have. 

[jippytum]

The investigation is stalled because there is zero official interest in convicting Thaksin and have him face justice. 

[Hunz Kittisak]

Did anyone see the recent Thaksin walkabout in Bkk Chinatown? He is still very popular like a rock star. I missed the chance to see the big man

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand's National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has admitted that their investigation into how former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra allegedly managed to receive medical treatment at Police General Hospital (PGH) without standard prison detention is facing delays

Unsurprising... palms have to be greased.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

The truth is they are all S-it scared of upsetting him for one reason or another - Above the law? Ohhhh Yes!!!

The truth is he arrived back in Thailand via a private jet... [not a medi-vac flight] feeling fine.

Then a couple of hours later he's rushed via helicopter supposedly gravely ill to the private ward for immediate treatment.

The rest is history... This is Thailand

[Mr Meeseeks]

Cake boxes stuffed with cash make everybody feel better. 

 

Especially those who are so sleekit and immoral to pretend they are terminally ill.

[newbee2022]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

conclude the inquiry by submitting the findings for further review

So it will be an inquiry up to infinity.

Well done😂

[rudi49jr]

It’s facing delays because they’re still busy counting the money they received in all those big fat brown envelopes, and they’re not sure yet if they can squeeze Thaksin for some more.

[Thumbs]

This is how thailand operates, inital outrage then drag things out until everyone forgets 

 

Multiple expressway collapses and cars being struck by falling debris. Things died down from first and nothing changed with safety standards so second serious collapse occurs 

 

Red bull heir that was allowed to drag on so statute of limitations expired on majority of his offences then the final one was swept under the table until it hit the news again and the house of cards started to crumble 

 

Police and their crackdown after a serious incident like a mass shooting then within a week they have made hundreds of arrests and seizures of illegal guns ( if it was that easy why wasn't it done on a daily basis) 

 

If it wasn't for social media detectives and local news channels running stories of government ineptitude forcing action so as not to lose face then nothing would get done here

[sambum]

"Thaksin Investigation Stalled by Legal Hurdles, Says NACC"

 

Oh, what a surprise! Who would have thought otherwise? 🙂 

[spidermike007]

Say it ain't so. What a surprise. The anti-corruption department is probably one of the most corrupt departments in the country. 

 

Every single department in Thailand is corrupt from the local, to the state government, to the federal government. You cannot get a position within the government at any level, the police, customs or immigration without buying that position. Everybody knows that and fortunes are being made on a daily basis.

 

My woman's sister-in-law just paid 200,000 baht for a lowly 10,000 baht a month position in their local village. It's so common.

 

Of course reform is just a silly dream, everybody's making so much money with this bizarre patronage system, when hundreds of thousands of baht are being paid for a low position and millions are being paid for a high position. The fortunes that are being made and the illegal and illicit funds that are being collected are astonishing and shameful. 

 

Thanksin? Just another corrupt dinosaur. 

 

 

[connda]

Multiply this ฿ by a few billion and you have your answer.

[connda]

16 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

My woman's sister-in-law just paid 200,000 baht for a lowly 10,000 baht a month position in their local village. It's so common.

If a Thai gets a job at the Thai Post Office or Thai Railway they end up making that money up in spades over a life-time.
But that doesn't usually equate to jobs in villages unless its a government position at the Aw Bot Taw Tambon level of government.  Those jobs come with Social Security, pensions, and other perks.

[crazykopite]

Not more big fat brown envelopes !

[crazykopite]

I can remember the first month I arrived in Thailand back in 2006 my landlord approached me and asked if I had a Thai bank account when I replied no he asked me what savings I had and that if I were to place a certain amount in a certain bank this would help his son get a position of employment within the bank in other words for his son to work in a bank he had to persuade family and friends to open accounts to the tune of one million plus baht to be guaranteed employment that is corruption at its finest ! Needless to say I made an excuse and placed my money with another bank !

[JJ-Thailand]

Surprised? 😂😂😂

[klauskunkel]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

"Our team is required to follow legal procedures

when it is opportune. When it isn't then we don't give a hoot."

[AhFarangJa]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

Saroj confirmed some documents had been received. However, there remains ambiguity over whether they meet the full requirements originally set out by the NACC.

Said full requirements include the signature of the person supplying them, along with their Grandparents, Great Grandparents, and Great, Great Grandparents.

[jaideedave]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

The truth is he arrived back in Thailand via a private jet... [not a medi-vac flight] feeling fine.

Then a couple of hours later he's rushed via helicopter supposedly gravely ill to the private ward for immediate treatment.

The rest is history... This is Thailand

Yes and the acting coach was waiting aboard the chopper with the kit required> neck brace,arm sling and eye patch and to round it all off with a wheelchair.

[wombat]

i love watching the master at work

[wombat]

2 hours ago, crazykopite said:

I can remember the first month I arrived in Thailand back in 2006 my landlord approached me and asked if I had a Thai bank account when I replied no he asked me what savings I had and that if I were to place a certain amount in a certain bank this would help his son get a position of employment within the bank in other words for his son to work in a bank he had to persuade family and friends to open accounts to the tune of one million plus baht to be guaranteed employment that is corruption at its finest ! Needless to say I made an excuse and placed my money with another bank !

party pooper