Ruttaphol revealed that he has signed the formation of a three-party committee to review individuals eligible for royal pardons in each province. Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice expects the release process for Thaksin and other pardon recipients to be completed by June.
At 13:15 on 5 June 2026 at the Government House, Police Lieutenant General Ruttaphol Naowarat, Minister of Justice, spoke about the progress in reviewing those granted royal pardons. On 4 June, he signed to establish a three-party committee consisting of provincial governors or their representatives, provincial prosecutors, and prison commanders or correctional facility directors. This committee holds authority under Section 21 of the Royal Pardon Act in each province, and it is up to the provincial offices to convene meetings to consider details of those eligible for pardon.
When asked about the number of individuals receiving pardons, the Minister of Justice said he did not know the details yet. Some reports have been received, but the specifics should be obtained from the Department of Corrections. Asked whether the process remains within the 120-day framework, the minister replied that the Department of Corrections should clarify the procedural steps, as the three-party committees in each province may hold meetings at different times depending on their readiness.
When asked if a deadline has been set for provinces to report their review results, the Minister of Justice said no deadline was imposed, but a summary would likely be coordinated again with the Department of Corrections to identify which provinces have completed their assessments.
When questioned whether the final list must be sent to the Ministry of Justice, the minister responded that the list would not be sent to the ministry but rather to the Department of Corrections, since the minister’s authority is limited to appointing the committees in each province. When asked if the review would be completed this month, he said he did not yet know the details.
When asked again if the matter must be forwarded to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice said that according to regulations, there is no requirement to submit it to the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Pongsawat Neelayothin, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, spoke about the release process for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra following the 2026 Royal Pardon Act. She said a three-party committee under Section 21 of the Royal Pardon Act will convene soon. The review period is set not to exceed 120 days, but the speed depends on the readiness of each provincial prison, which varies in size. This time, over 10,000 individuals nationwide from all prisons are expected to receive royal pardons.
Mrs. Pongsawat added that after the committee meets, a certificate of clemency will be issued. In Thaksin’s case, it depends on the jurisdiction of the Thonburi court. Then, the certificate will be used to request release from probation, marking the end of the process. Regarding whether the procedure will be completed within June, she believed it would be finished by then, with all actions conducted according to official regulations.
