Thai politician questions lenient sentencing for heinous crimes, calls for victim's family input

Wittaya Kaewparadai, deputy leader of the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party, has highlighted growing public concern over heinous crimes and the Thai justice system. He noted that while the majority of the public believes in the death penalty for severe offenses, the lengthy judicial process and the subsequent leniency through pardons and sentence reductions create a disconnect with societal sentiment. Wittaya cited the case of the murder of a British tourist, where the victim's mother expressed a desire not for an immediate execution of the perpetrator, but for them to suffer and atone for their actions. This suggests that for some victims, immediate death may not be the most fitting end. Under the Thai judicial system, there are two layers of authority after a prison or death sentence: sentence reductions according to the Department of Corrections' regulations and reductions through royal pardons. This leads to public perception that death sentences or life imprisonment might effectively translate to less than 10 years of incarceration. Wittaya stressed the imperative need for a review of the entire process, stating it is insufficient for the Department of Corrections to unilaterally propose sentence reductions. The legal process must incorporate feedback from victims or their representatives, such as prosecutors, to determine if sentence reductions are warranted based on the circumstances of the case. Furthermore, he urged the government to adopt a more stringent approach to pardon requests. He argued that limitations should extend beyond drug offenses to include heinous crimes that shock the public, which can lead to continuous criminal behavior characterized by a lack of conscience and no opportunity for rehabilitation. He emphasized that the enforcement of punishment must strictly adhere to court verdicts. From a social perspective, Wittaya identified a decline in morality as a root cause of the problems. He observed that a lack of morality in leadership reflects negatively on society as a whole. Having been in politics for over 30 years, he has witnessed worrying social changes, with people losing faith in the adage that good deeds are rewarded. He also expressed concern over the erosion of trust in the selection process for national leadership, citing allegations of collusion in Senate appointments, election fraud, and the selling of positions in the civil service. He believes that when individuals lacking morality assume leadership roles, it inevitably impacts the entire social structure. "We cannot blame the people who are struggling, because even poor people can raise their children to be good. The most important thing today is that leaders must set a good example, and all sectors must cooperate to solve this problem seriously," Wittaya concluded. Source: INN News