The department said 561 convicted criminals could have been incorrectly convicted. It added that 7,206 convicted people had submitted claims of wrongful conviction.

"Our crosschecks are intended to help the innocent and not to find fault with the justice system," Justice Ministry deputy permanent secretary Kittipong Kittiyarak said yesterday.

Three women convicted on drugs charges may have been innocently caught up in their partners' drug offences, he said.

Kittipong said convicted people would be provided with assistance in cases where there was a "strong suggestion of innocence".

"We will establish a committee of legal experts and forensic scientists to reinvestigate their cases," he said.

Her Majesty donates rice to farmers

Her Majesty the Queen has donated 42.4 tonnes of rice seed to flood-hit farmers in Angthong.

She is concerned about flood damage to farmland in the province and the effect on farmers, representative Sahas Boonyawiwat said yesterday.

Her Majesty will build a model farm at Tambon Ban Id, Sahas added. She donated relief packages to 150 farming households at Ban Id, Pho Sa, Hua Phai, Klong Voa and Ban Hae.

The seed comes from research centres and will be stored at a rice bank and distributed to farmers by provincial authorities, he said.

Flooding has destroyed 157,022 rai of farmland.

Cabinet acts on shortage of judges

The Cabinet yesterday approved three draft bills to rehire retired judges for higher positions than now allowed. The move is aimed at easing the shortage of judges.

Two bills would amend procedures to allow three senior judges hired from among the retirees to sit on the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions. Presently, only Supreme Court judges can preside over the nine-member bench. Six active judges would still be required to co-preside over political cases.

The third bill would let retired judges rule in the high court for second- or third-tier review. Currently, they are restricted to the lower court.

Judges reach mandatory retirement at 60. They can be rehired as senior judges till 65, after which they are reviewed annually.

Why is prime minister so wealthy?

A political pressure group yesterday complained to the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) that Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont appeared unusually rich.

"He should not have more than Bt25 million,'' said Sudchai Bunchai, leader of the Saturday People against Dictatorship.

The Bt90.8 million in assets that Surayud and his wife Khunying Chitrawadee declared in his financial report to the NCCC needed explanation because the retired general worked only in bureaucratic circles including the Privy Council, he said.

Assembly considers 13 draft laws

The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will today consider 13 draft laws, mostly linked to issues of trade and electronic transaction.

The bills pending include electronic transaction, trade of agricultural products, allocation of land and medical equipment.

The group proposing the bills includes Borwornsak Uwanno, Somkiat On-wimon and Suchit Boonbongkarn.