Justice Minister Defends Drug Kingpin's Early Release Procedures
An 85-year-old drug kingpin's early release and royal pardon triggered a Justice Ministry review that found procedural irregularities, though the minister said the case cannot be reopened since it's legally concluded.
Justice Minister Rutthapol Naruebet addressed the release of 85-year-old Lao Ta Saen Lee, a prominent drug trafficking convict who had his life sentence reduced to eight years and was granted a royal pardon on August 14, following public criticism. The case prompted the establishment of two separate responses: the Department of Corrections has been asked to clarify the prisoner assessment process and the procedures for submitting royal pardon recommendations, while the Justice Ministry has formed a working group to review pardon criteria.
The Minister acknowledged finding multiple procedural irregularities during the review. When asked whether the case could be reopened, Rutthapol stated that would not be possible because the matter is considered legally concluded. He emphasized that officials followed the regulations in place at the time, but initial findings suggest the regulations themselves contain deficiencies that require improvement.
Regarding the distinction between regulatory fault and procedural error, Rutthapol said the responsibility lies with the regulations that officials were required to follow. When pressed on why Thai prisoners might receive harsher treatment under the same procedures, he cited age as a contributing factor and requested further investigation. The Minister expressed confidence that staff acted without malicious intent and followed established rules, though he acknowledged opposition parties may raise the matter in parliament. He said the government is prepared with detailed explanations of which regulations applied in each year and how the case was initially reviewed.
