Paetongtarn Shinawatra, also a former prime minister, discussed her father’s assignment during her visit to Klongprem Central Prison in Bangkok yesterday, reports the Bangkok Post.
Reporters from various news agencies continued to gather outside the prison on Ngamwongwan Road in Chatuchak district, more than two weeks after Thaksin was brought there.
Ms Paetongtarn and her husband Pitaka Suksawat arrived at the prison at 8:40am, marking the fourth time Thaksin’s family has been allowed to see him since the Supreme Court sent him to jail on Sept 9.
The court ordered him to serve the one-year imprisonment term handed down two years ago, after finding that Thaksin’s six-month stay in a luxury hospital ward did not meet the conditions of his sentence.
A group of red-shirt supporters played recordings of songs sung by Thaksin through loudspeakers to show support on the road in front of the prison. Some supporters carried red umbrellas printed with cartoon images of Thaksin.
Upon their arrival, Ms Paetongtarn and her husband walked towards the red-shirt group and greeted the crowd with smiles and traditional wai gestures. The couple thanked them for their continued support.
“I can only visit on Mondays and Thursdays - two days a week,” she told supporters, who encouraged her to visit more often and jokingly commented on the volume of the music being played.
Ms Paetongtarn was unable to visit her father this past Monday due to prior commitments. However, Mr Pitaka and her elder sister Pintongta Shinawatra Kunakornwong went to the prison that day.
When reporters asked her whether Thaksin’s grandchildren had sent any letters, Ms Paetongtarn replied, “Not today. But soon they’ll be allowed to video call him via Line. We’ll need to check with the lawyer about the schedule.”
After about an hour inside, the couple emerged to meet red-shirt supporters from Sing Buri province.
Speaking to reporters, Ms Paetongtarn said her father was in good health. “His health is okay. The prison chief said he would assign my father to help supervise drain-cleaning work,” she said before departing.
The Supreme Court rejected Thaksin’s claims of illness that had allowed him to stay at Police General Hospital after his return to Thailand in August 2023 until his parole in early 2024.
The 76-year-old billionaire was admitted to Bangkok Remand Prison after the ruling on Sept 9 and the following day was transferred to Klongprem Central Prison for convicts.