Inmates get birthday pardon
Anucha Charoenpo
About 8,000 inmates serving time in lieu of fines will be freed to mark His Majesty the King's birthday on Dec 5.
Justice Minister Purachai Piumsombun said 8,000 prisoners from the police detention centre in Bangkok and two other detention centres of the Corrections Department in Pathum Thani and Trat would be freed initially, on Dec 4.
That's 10% of the total number of inmates serving time in lieu of fines.
Mr Purachai said inmates eligible for the pardon must have been fined no more than 50,000 baht.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra would preside over the release of inmates at the Bangkok centre while those in the two provinces would be be seen off by provincial governors.
The justice minister said jailing petty offenders in place of fines had become a financial burden on the state which had to draw from its pocket to pay for their lodging and food.
The Finance Ministry, police and the Justice Ministry met yesterday to discuss the pardon.
Under the arrangement, the Finance Ministry would pay fines of up to 100 million baht on behalf of those who are being pardoned.
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