Draft bill to prevent torture of suspects submitted to HouseJustice Minister Somsak Thepsutin (Bangkok Post file photo)A draft bill aiming to protect suspects from torture and forced disappearances has been submitted to the House of Representatives for deliberation, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin said on Wednesday. Mr Somsak said the bill, drafted by the Department of Rights and Liberties Protection, was among bills waiting to be added to the House agenda for deliberation in the first reading. He said the gist of the legislation was to protect suspects in criminal cases from torture and forced disappearance while in custody of state authorities. The law, once in effect, would help uplift the Thai justice system and human rights protection to international standards, said Mr Somsak. For the Nakhon Sawan case, relatives of the murdered suspect were eligible to compensation under a 2001 law on compensation for suspects in criminal cases who are victims of excessive abuse of power.

Source: Bangkok Post August 25, 2021 10:18 UTC