Bangkok: The Minister of Justice has ordered a comprehensive review of the criteria for sending inmates for treatment outside of prison, following observations by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) related to the “Floor 14” incident. This incident had previously led the Supreme Court to mandate Thaksin’s return to prison to serve his full sentence as per the court’s verdict.

According to Thai News Agency, on November 7th, Police Lieutenant General Ruttapol Naowarat, the Minister of Justice, issued a memorandum to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice. The memorandum calls for a thorough review and revision of the rules, regulations, announcements, criteria, and guidelines concerning the transfer of inmates for external treatment, the consideration of sentence suspension, and the designation of non-prison areas as detention centers.

The NACC has established a fact-finding committee to investigate actions by prison officials and others that may have unfairly benefited inmates. It has been observed that the current processes for reviewing and interpreting regulations could lead to uncertainties and affect the credibility of the agency. Therefore, the NACC has requested a revision of the following areas to ensure clarity, accuracy, and adherence to the rule of law:

1. The criteria for sending inmates outside of prison for treatment, including the discretion used by medical personnel in deciding if treatment outside is necessary.

2. The suspension of punishment under special circumstances, focusing on the role of medical assessments in determining eligibility and whether the current assessments meet the required standards. This includes examining cases where inmates are severely ill, disabled, or aged 70 years or older, based on the Department of Corrections’ guidelines announced in 2020.

3. The operational procedures for detention in designated facilities, stressing the need for clear criteria and guidelines to minimize discretionary powers that could potentially benefit specific inmates. This follows the NACC’s resolution made during its 76th meeting in 2025.

4. Any other areas that require improvement to ensure the integrity and transparency of the inmate treatment process.

The Minister of Justice has urged prompt action and reporting on the outcomes of the review to address the NACC’s concerns effectively.