“Useless”. Probation Department’s rented monitoring devices don’t work.

The electronic monitoring bracelets, worn by prisoners on parole to keep track of their movements, and rented from a private company, are useless.

Deputy Thai justice permanent secretary Thawatchai Khaikhaeo, together with a spokesperson from the Justice Ministry, told the media that the investigating committee, set up on August 9 to probe the Chinese-made bracelets, completed its investigation last Friday.

Thai PBS reports that the committee said the EM bracelets were “useless”, because the devices could be easily removed from the wrist, without the need to cut the strap, and returned to the wrist just as easily.

Some of the paroled prisoners were found to be allergic to the bracelets, which caused itching or infected rashes on their arms. Additionally, the electronic system inside the bracelets did not function properly, giving out false device alerts between 10,000-100,000 times a month, or emitted no signal at all.

The Department of Probation has been notified of the committee’s findings and ordered them to contact the supplier, Fort Corporation, to address the problems or cancel the contract. The department has already asked the company to replace the malfunctioning devices or face a fine of 500 baht per unit per day.

SOURCE: Thai PBS World