Bangkok: Pol. Col. Thawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice, emphasized that former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s return to Thailand must adhere to legal procedures, rejecting any notion of a “Thaksin model.”

According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Col. Thawee addressed the issue following Thaksin Shinawatra’s statement about his intention to return to Thailand for the Songkran festival next year. The Minister clarified that while there has been no formal coordination for Yingluck’s return, any such process would need to begin with the issuance of a detention warrant by the court, as per the legal requirements. Once the warrant is issued, the Corrections Department will act accordingly. The Minister noted that the current Corrections Department law mandates that women must be detained in the Central Correctional Institution, ensuring that all actions are compliant with the law.

When questioned about whether Yingluck would follow a similar process to Thaksin’s, which included requesting a royal pardon, Pol. Co
l. Thawee stated that Thaksin’s situation occurred before he assumed his current role. He reiterated that Yingluck’s return must comply with the established legal framework of the Corrections Department.

In response to further inquiries about the existence of a “Thaksin model,” Pol. Col. Thawee firmly denied any such model, insisting that all procedures are strictly in accordance with the law.