Imprisoned Poor To Receive Royal Pardon

[Jai Dee]

IMPRISONED POOR WHO ARE UNABLE TO PAY FINES WILL BE GIVEN ROYAL PARDON ON HIS MAJESTY THE KING’S BIRTHDAY

The Ministry of Justice will secure the release of poor detainees nationwide who have opted to imprisonment in lieu of fines, as a tribute to His Majesty the King on the royal birthday next week.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Justice Kittipong Kittiyarak (กิตติพงษ์ กิตยารักษ์) says the ministry will pay fines on behalf of the detainees by using money allocated from the Government Lottery Bureau. The first lot of 1,000 detainees will be released on December 4th, at 9.30 a.m. at Khlong Prem Central Prison in Bangkok.

Other prisoners who are subjected to the royal pardon this year include those aged over 70, disabled people who are serving social service in place of paying fines and youngsters who are undergoing training at various Juvenile Protection and Observation Centres because they are unable to pay fines for their petty crimes.

The second batch of such prisoners will be released on December 7th.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary for Justice says further that foreigners who are detained for illegal entry will be repatriated with the help of the Immigration Office.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 02 December 2005