prison
- South Thailand News
Influenza outbreak in Thailand prison infects over 3,000 inmates
A devastating influenza outbreak at Nakhon Si Thammarat prison in Thailand has infected almost 3,500 inmates, leading to two fatalities, as reported by public health officials. The prison in Phra Phom district was inspected by a team led by Dr Kittisak Aksornwong, the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health, who confirmed the outbreak. From April 19 to April 28, 3,442…
- Thailand News
Ex-Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao receives four-month sentence
The former CEO of Binance and once a dominant figure in the cryptocurrency industry, Changpeng Zhao, was given a four-month prison sentence yesterday after admitting to violating anti-money laundering laws in the United States. The sentencing of Changpeng, commonly known as CZ, marks a landmark moment in the crypto industry, with two major figures now having been imprisoned. The sentence,…
- Thailand News
Prachuap Khiri Khan prison manages Covid-19 with emergency operations centre
The Covid-19 situation at Prachuap Khiri Khan prison in Thailand is set to be managed by an imminent emergency operations centre (EOC), following the identification of infection clusters. This development comes as the public health permanent secretary, Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, reported intensified surveillance in the wake of 79 confirmed Covid cases at the prison. The first infection was detected on…
- Thailand News
Former abbot gets 468-year sentence in 300 million baht embezzlement case
The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases sentenced a former abbot of Wat Pa Dhammakiri in Nakhon Ratchasima, to an overwhelming 468 years in prison. This decision was made yesterday, March 20, following lawsuits that accused Khom Kongkaeowas and eight others of being embroiled in an embezzlement case worth nearly 300 million baht (US$8.34 million). Among the eight…
- Thailand News
Update: Female police corporal gets 13-year sentence for torture
After a harrowing ordeal that lasted over two years, the court has sentenced a female police corporal to 13 years and five months imprisonment for the brutal treatment of a former female soldier who served under her. The close male friend of the corporal was also convicted, receiving a four-year and one-month jail term. The case came to light when…
- Thailand News
Food for thought: Activist hospitalised after 11-day hunger strike
Political activist Netiporn Sanesangkhom, aka Bung, was transferred from prison to the Correctional Hospital yesterday, following a hunger strike lasting 11 days, as confirmed by her legal representatives. Suffering from symptoms including hepatitis and cystitis, Netiporn was too frail to walk, as stated by Thai Lawyers for Human Rights on their official account. Her confinement began at the Central Women’s…
- Thailand News
Protesters demand jail for Thaksin
Protesters rallied outside the Government House, demanding the return of convicted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to prison grounds. Allegedly basking in the comforts of the Police General Hospital for over five months, Thaksin’s extended stay has ignited a firestorm of discontent. Protesters from the Network of Students and Citizens for Thailand’s Reform rallied outside Rajamangala University, determined to scrutinise Thaksin’s…
- Thailand News
Kamphaeng Phet prison sweep finds zero contraband, upholds security
Kamphaeng Phet’s Central Prison conducted a surprise operation following the Department of Corrections’ policy to prevent the smuggling of contraband into the inmates’ quarters. Chathip Rujonseree, the Governor of Kamphaeng Phet Province, today chaired the launch of this special inspection operation to safeguard against the illicit introduction of prohibited items into the prison cells. The operation was a coordinated effort…
- Thailand News
Life sentence for Pattalung man in attempted murder case
37 year old Chawalit Thongduang, also known as Paeng Nahonod, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Pattalung provincial court for the attempted murder of an officer back in 2019. The court verdict was announced today, following Paeng’s escape from the hospital at 10am. The case, number 175/2565, had a total of five defendants, with the Pattalung provincial prosecutor…
- Thailand News
DOC denies policy to detain prisoners outside prison favours ex-PM Thaksin
The Department of Corrections (DOC) refuted allegations that its latest policy, permitting the detention of prisoners outside of prison, is designed to favour Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister. The 74 year old former PM was recently sentenced to eight years for three separate cases and was immediately moved to a police hospital. The newly introduced regulation, announced on Thursday…
- Thailand News
Local gambling operator in Don Mueang sentenced to four months detention
Don Mueang District Court sentenced a local gambling operator to four months in prison, converting the sentence to detention instead. The gamblers involved received individual penalties of 15-day imprisonment and a 2,000 baht fine but were granted bail awaiting the court’s final judgement. This verdict was delivered yesterday at Don Mueang District Court. The court considered the case where the…
- Thailand News
Cool ride, hot water: Fake licence plate lands young Thai man in prison
A young Thai man faces five years in prison after he was arrested by Ubon Ratchathani Highway Police for using a fake red licence plate. The suspect had a genuine plate but claimed he used the fraudulent one to make his vehicle look cool. The police suspect he was trying to evade traffic tickets. Forging government documents, such as licence…
- World News
Elizabeth Holmes starts 11-year prison term for Theranos fraud
Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of the now-defunct Theranos, reported to a federal prison in Texas to serve her 11-year sentence. The 39 year old was convicted of four counts of fraud related to her failed blood testing start-up early last year. Her request to remain free on bail while challenging the original conviction was denied in mid-May. The Federal Bureau…
- Crime News
Scammer couple sentenced to 12,000 years in prison each in Thailand
Thailand’s Criminal Court sentenced a Thai couple to 12,640 years in prison each yesterday after finding them guilty of operating a Ponzi scheme with damages amounting to billions of baht. The court ruled that Wantanee Tippaveth and her boyfriend Metee Chinpa committed 2,528 acts of fraud between March 9, 2019, and October 30, 2020. Wantanee and Metee convinced hundreds of…
- Phuket News
Phuket prison inmates to train as boatbuilders in rehabilitation project
In a bid to provide vocational training and equip prisoners with valuable skills for their post-release lives, ten inmates from Phuket Prison are set to begin training as boatbuilders on May 8. The project comes after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Phuket Provincial Prison and Roeng Varee boatbuilders, based in Chalong. The signing took place at Phuket Provincial…
- Crime News
Dept of Corrections denies existence of ‘VIP rooms’ in Thai prisons
Contrary to allegations in the media that inmates in Thai prisons can buy their way into an air-conditioned, smoking room with unlimited TV, the Department of Corrections says there is no such thing as a VIP room when you’re behind bars in Thailand. On Tuesday, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Corrections Sitthi Suteewong said he would like to clarify several points…
- Crime News
Court rules 8 years in prison for Thai man who dumped model’s body in Bangkok condo lobby
Thailand‘s Court of Appeal upholds an eight-year prison sentence for a man convicted of abducting an unconscious woman and dumping her dead body in the lobby of his condo in Bangkok over three years ago. In September 2019, models Rachadech “Nam Un” Wongtabutr and Thitima “Lalabelle” Noraphanphiphat were both hired to provide entertainment at a house party in Bang Bua…
- Thailand News
Thailand enacts law to prevent recidivism among sexual and violent offenders
Thailand will implement a law later this month that aims at preventing recidivism among prisoners put away for violent or sexual offences after their release from prison. Yesterday, government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek said in a Cabinet meeting that the Measures to Prevent Recidivism of Sexual and Violent Crimes Act (2022) will come into force on January 23. The new act requires…
- Hot News
Former US funeral home director gets 20 years in slammer for selling dead body parts
A former US funeral home director in the state of Colorado has been jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of selling dead body parts. The former director, Megan Hess, 46, pleaded guilty to defrauding relatives of the dead by dissecting 560 corpses and selling them without permission. Hess operated a funeral home named Sunset Mesa in Montrose, Colorado.…
- Universities
Thai university student sentenced to prison on royal defamation charges
A Thai university student has been reportedly sentenced to prison on royal defamation charges. Aukit Santiprasitkul, 23, a Ramkhamhaeng University Faculty of Law student was charged with royal defamation and breaking into data on a computer system. The charges allege that the hacking of the computer system affects national security under the Computer Crimes Act, which is the same act…
- World News
Myanmar’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi jailed for three years, along with Australian adviser
Myanmar’s ousted leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been sentenced to another three years in jail along with an Australian adviser to her political party. Suu Kyi was detained back in February 2021 after a military coup took over the government, despite her party winning a democratic election the year before. Australian economist and adviser to the National League for…
- Pattaya News
Homeless Thai man turns to crime so he can get food in jail
With no prospects of a job, no home, and no money to buy food, an old man from Chon Buri turned to a life of crime so he could get fed and have a roof over his head… in prison. The 60 year old man called Pichit was arrested in the Sattahip district, Chon Buri province, at about 3.30pm on…
- Politics News
Thai pop star flees to UK after fearing for her safety in Thailand
A controversial pop star from Thailand has relocated to the relative safe haven of the UK after fearing for her life. Constant fears of being incarcerated because of the clash between the kingdom’s conservatism and her contentious musical lyrics have driven Peeralada Sukawat from her homeland. It’s been something of a meteoric rise for the 29 year old musician, known…
- Crime News
More than 3,000 ‘cannabis convicts’ to be released from Thai prison tomorrow
Tomorrow, 3,071 prisoners locked up for cannabis-related drug crimes will be released from prisons all over Thailand. Thailand’s Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin ordered the Department of Corrections to release the prisoners tomorrow, June 9, when cannabis will be delisted as a Category 5 narcotic. Currently, there are 4,075 inmates in Thailand convicted of marijuana-related offences. A total of 3,071 of…
- Crime News
Inspections reveal 12 Thai prisons serving rotten food to inmates
Spot-check inspections conducted at prisons across Thailand reveal that a total of 12 prisons were serving rotten food to inmates. The prisons were serving chicken, pork, vegetables and condiments all past their use-by-date. Prison officers in the 12 prisons are thought to have profited from the scandal, according to Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, who publicly addressed the results of the…
- Thailand News
Prison guard under investigation for blackmail
After a guard at the Thonburi Women’s Correctional Institute in Bangkok was suspected of corruption and bribery, an investigation is now underway. In return for alleged special treatment, the guard wanted money from the family of a prisoner. The guard, who has not been named, is now suspended during the investigation and will be fired if proven guilty. Somsak Thepsuthin,…
- Crime News
Thai activist writes about his sex life behind bars, gets put back in prison
A Thai activist is facing one year behind bars for writing about his sexual experiences in prison on his Facebook account. Ekachai Hongkangwan was sentenced to one year in prison without parole yesterday. The activist’s relatives have applied to get him out on bail and are awaiting the Supreme Court’s final decision, which is expected to take two to three…
- Thailand News
Thai prisons ban alcohol-based gel after inmate dies, others hospitalised from drinking hand sanitiser
Alcohol-based hand sanitiser is being banned at Thai prisons after one inmate died, another blinded, and 31 others injured from mixing the hand gel with soft drinks to get drunk. All forms of alcohol products are typically prohibited on prison grounds, but during the Covid-19 pandemic, with major outbreaks at Thai prisons infecting tens of thousands of inmates, rules were…
- World News
Travel blogger jailed in China for posing with a veteran’s tombstone for pictures
A travel blogger in China was sentenced to seven months in prison after publishing photos of himself with a veteran’s tombstone at a military cemetery in Xinjiang territory, according to the state media People’s Daily. Li Qixian, who blogged under the name Xiao Xian Jayson, was ordered him to make a public apology within 10 days. Li visited the Kangxiwa…
- Covid-19 News
Covid-19 in prison: outbreaks from overcrowding now subsiding
The Thai prison system has suffered from an overcrowding problem for years, but the Covid-19 pandemic has starkly illustrated the dangers of it. In prisons, there have been 72,359 Covid-19 infections, making them more infected than any single province except Bangkok (1st) and its neighbours Samut Prakan (2nd) and Samut Sakhon (4th) and Chon Buri (3rd). Thailand has the 6th…
