On August 4 last year, Chonsawat was sentenced to one-and-a-half years in jail for electoral fraud.

The former chief of the Samut Prakan Provincial Administrative Organisation recently petitioned for a reduction of his term citing his good behaviour and that he has already served at least two-thirds of his term.

If his jail term had been suspended, he could have been freed.

Samut Prakan prison warden Wuttichai Jenwiriyakul said yesterday he had written to the Corrections Department to postpone Chonsawat’s release.

“By the regulations, he has the right to apply for a penalty reduction. But after reviewing his case, I find it inappropriate to release him now,” Wuttichai said. He spoke after Justice Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya expressed concerns about reports that Chonsawat was on a list of prisoners who could eligible for early release.

“Many cases of penalty suspension, particularly those involving big names, have raised public doubts,” Paiboon said after being asked about the issue.

Paiboon said the Justice Ministry had been told to be more careful about reviewing inmate requests after Major Chalermchai Matchaklam, who was convicted of killing a Yasothon governor, was released from jail last year when his sentence was suspended.

The new policy specifies that the permanent secretary of the Justice Ministry and the Corrections Department chief should review cases instead of relying entirely on the discretion of prison wardens.

However, Paiboon also insisted that he would not intervene in officials’ decision regarding Chonsawat’s case.