BANGKOK— Boonsong Teriyapirom, once Thailand’s Commerce Minister, has been granted compassionate parole and is set to be released after serving part of his 48-year sentence for corruption. The decision comes after Teriyapirom was found guilty in 2019 for his role in the infamous rice-pledging scheme under the Yingluck Shinawatra administration.
Teriyapirom was initially sentenced to 42 years in 2017 by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions, a sentence which was later extended by six years following an appeal. The charges included price collusion, violations of the Criminal Code, and anti-corruption laws related to the scandal where rice was supposedly sold to China but was diverted for domestic sale at lower prices, leading to significant financial losses for the state.
His release on compassionate grounds was prompted by his alleged deteriorating health conditions, specifically a severe spinal issue that required urgent surgical intervention to prevent paralysis. The parole decision reflects Thailand’s policy of considering health and humanitarian aspects for inmates according to Thai officials, although it comes with conditions; Teriyapirom is required to wear an electronic monitoring device. He plans to return to his home in Chiang Mai when released, whose exact date is unclear as of press time.
This case has stirred discussions online from Thai netizens about justice, health in incarceration, and the application of parole in high-profile corruption cases. Teriyapirom’s release on parole marks a significant turn in one of the most high-profile corruption cases in recent Thai political history.
Early reports say he will be placed on probation for three years and five months, through April of 2028, as part of the conditions of his release.
Boonsong Teriyapirom, born on January 15, 1952, in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, is now 72 years old. He served as Thailand’s Commerce Minister under the administration of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Before entering politics, Boonsong had a legal background, having worked as a lawyer and later as a judge in the Administrative Court.
