Time limits to be suspended for fugitives from justice

A government source said the Justice Ministry would propose changes to the statutes of limitations for criminal cases at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting.

The ministry will argue the unsuitability of the present time limits for bringing a case to trial, especially when government officials and political office-holders are indicted.

The number of such people has recently increased dramatically both nationally and locally, and the cases tend to be very complicated.

Officials need more time to finish their investigations, and time limits increasingly expire before cases can be brought to court, the source said.

Moreover, many of those indicted flee abroad, and police cannot bring them in within the prescribed time limit. This could encourage more people to break the law, the source said.

The amendment would be to Article 96 of the Criminal Act, which governs statutes of limitations. As it now stands, if a case has been brought to court and the accused flees or is ruled insane, the court can suspend proceedings, but the case must be dismissed once the statute of limitations expires.

The amendment would stipulate: "In the event that an accused person flees the country or his or her locality, the prescribed time limit shall restart from when that person is arrested or submits to the legal process. If the case has been brought to court, it shall not be dismissed even when the normal time limit expires, except if the accused has been ruled insane."

Article 95 of the Criminal Act prescribes statutes of limitations for criminal cases. These are 20 years for cases carrying a possible death sentence or imprisonment from 20 years to life, 15 years for possible jail terms of seven to 20 years, 10 years for possible jail terms of one to seven years, five years for possible jail terms of one month to one year and one year for possible jail terms of up to one month.

Fugitive politicians now living in exile include ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Somchai "Kamnan Poh" Khunplome, former deputy interior minister Vatana Asavahame and former PM's Office minister Jakrapob Penkair.