Mr. Sahakarn Phatnarin, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, and Mr. Nasathi Thongplad, Commander of the Bangkok Remand Prison, held two separate press conferences to refute speculation that Mr. Thaksin had been transferred from the police hospital to Phraram 9 Hospital . Where his family has a majority stake.
Mr. Thaksin was transferred from the Bangkok Remand Prison Hospital to the Police General Hospital at 1 a.m. on 23 August after doctors at the prison hospital found he had chest pains and persistent high blood pressure.
Mr. Thaksin was transferred from the Bangkok Remand Prison Hospital to the Police General Hospital at 1 am on 23 August. Photo: Reuters, EPA-EFE
Some suspect that he was transferred to the more comfortable Fraram 9 Hospital as the authorities never released photographs of him inside the Police General Hospital.
Mr Sahakarn said: “He is definitely in the Police General Hospital but we cannot share his pictures. It is forbidden to publish pictures of prisoners.” According to Mr Sahakarna, patient privacy is protected by law.
The permanent deputy secretary of the Ministry of Justice said there was no reason to transfer Mr. Thaksin from the police hospital to a private hospital as doctors at the Police General Hospital could treat his illness.
Mr. Sahkarn Phatnarin also said that four officers from the Department of Corrections had been arranged in front of Mr. Thaksin’s room.
Mr. Sahkarn Phatnarin reiterated that former Prime Minister Thaksin had 4 ailments of heart, lung, high blood pressure and herniated disc. After going to jail, stress and anxiety worsened his condition.
After the first five days, relatives of the former prime minister can seek permission from the Bangkok Remand Jail to visit him during the normal visiting hours of the Police General Hospital from 11 am to 13 pm and from 5 pm to 7 pm.
Thaksin was not allowed to use his phone while he was in the hospital. The doctors will decide when Thaksin will be sent back to jail.
Mr Nasathi said the jail allowed only 10 relatives to visit him per day and 10 visitors were allowed on 28 August.
Meanwhile, Soponrat Singhajaru, director of the Police General Hospital, said that the team of six specialists in charge of Thaksin’s treatment had never sought permission to transfer Thaksin to another hospital.
