Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra may soon take on an educational role in prison, potentially teaching English to fellow inmates, according to Department of Corrections director-general Pol Lt Col Prawut Wongseenin.
When asked about possible community service duties, Prawut said that due to Thaksin’s age of 76, he is more likely to be placed in an educational program rather than physical labor. Teaching English is among the options being considered.
Thaksin’s daughter, former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, had previously suggested that her father might be assigned to a drain-cleaning project. Prison officials, however, clarified that Thaksin has not yet been in custody long enough to qualify for external work assignments.
Prawut stated that the timeline for any work assignment remains uncertain and must follow strict prison regulations. He declined to comment on Thaksin’s second application for a royal pardon, noting only that it will proceed through the legal process. Both the current and former justice ministers have reportedly opposed the request.
A Corrections Department source explained that inmates normally must serve at least two-thirds of their sentence before applying for sentence suspension. For inmates over 70, applications may be submitted after completing one-third of the sentence or six months, whichever is longer. Applications are reviewed monthly, and officials insist that all regulations are applied equally to every inmate.