At 11:00 AM on April 30, 2025 at Government House, Prime Minister Anuthon Charnweerakul and Interior Minister called in Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanpong, Permanent Secretary of the Finance Ministry Lavarana Saengsnit, Bank of Thailand Governor Withaya Rattanakorn, Prime Minister's Office Minister Phraradr Parisananantkul, and NESDB Secretary-General Danucha Pichayanan for discussions.

Pharadr Parisananantkul, overseeing the Budget Bureau, revealed that the Prime Minister convened economic agencies to discuss the Thai Help Thai project framework, with expectations for a Cabinet resolution next week. Today's meeting was necessary for preliminary discussion, with plans to potentially convene an economic Cabinet meeting on Monday, May 4, pending confirmation whether that date works given it is a public holiday.

Pharadr noted that Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti previously announced the Thai Help Thai program, also known as "Kohn La Khrueng Plus," would launch on June 1st. The initiative encompasses multiple projects targeting over 30 million people, divided into two segments: welfare card holders numbering 13.4 million and the general public. Officials are currently reviewing exact figures for the general population segment, but combined totals are expected to exceed 30 million beneficiaries.

Regarding program readiness and budget allocation, Phradr indicated they are awaiting details from the Finance Ministry, which sets policy direction, along with other ministries including Labor, Education, and Agriculture regarding their respective relief measures.

When asked whether the target group would be 20-30 million people, Phradr clarified that initially it comprises welfare card holders at 13.2 million people, plus those entering the Thai Help Thai or original 50-50 Plus program. Officials are currently calculating the exact figures for the general population segment, with combined totals expected to exceed 30 million program beneficiaries.

Following the Justice Ministry's sentence suspension committee's consideration of eligible detainees nationwide, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was included in the decision. After serving 7 months and 20 days at Klong Prem Central Prison, with only 12 days remaining before completing two-thirds of his one-year sentence, he is set to receive supervised sentence suspension on May 11, 2026.

On April 30, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Klong Prem Central Prison, former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, accompanied by her husband Pitthak Sukhosavadi and daughter Pinthongta Shinawatra, departed after visiting Thaksin.

Yingluck revealed that Thaksin has now been informed of the committee's sentence suspension decision and confirmed his respect for the process. She acknowledged some confusion about why he still must wear an electronic monitoring (EM) bracelet given his advanced age and former status as Prime Minister. However, the family is prepared to comply with all imposed conditions and is pleased to receive the sentence suspension.

When asked about concerns regarding elderly detainees wearing EM bracelets, Yingluck stated that typically elderly detainees don't need to wear them, but since the committee mandated it, the family has no issues and is not surprised.

Regarding the May 11 release date, Yingluck said the family will pick him up during normal government office hours. She denied that any countdown posts on social media were discussed with Thaksin.

When asked about plans after his release, Yingluck said there are no special plans—just wanting to go home. The family discussed his health, as Thaksin did not receive any medical checkups while imprisoned.

When journalists asked about welcome arrangements following his release, Yingluck and the family declined to answer before promptly departing.

Police Sergeant 'Jao Suea' Clarifies He Played Dice Game with Relatives at Home, Not Running Illegal Gambling Den. Meanwhile, shop owners report that the same officer regularly collects 'protection fees' of 1,000-2,000 baht per establishment.

The case stems from a complaint by Yupapon, 46, and Thanasak, 53, parents of a 20-year-old man with a brain condition. Their son was allegedly lured by Sergeant 'Jao Suea,' attached to Region 9 Highway Police, into playing hi-lo gambling at a house in Muang District, Phatthalung Province, losing over 120,000 baht in the early morning hours of April 28. They filed a complaint at Muang Phatthalung Police Station.

After the story broke, Yupapon stated that the sergeant called and asked to discuss the matter before they file a report, promising to return all 120,000 baht and asking them to tell media it was a misunderstanding. However, the mother refused and proceeded with filing the complaint.

On April 30, 2569, Muang Phatthalung Police investigators prepared to question the victims further and proceeded to file charges against the sergeant for gambling violations and fraud.

Yupapon expressed concern that because the accused is a police officer, the internal investigation might be biased.

Police Region 9 Commander Major General Marut Ruangjintana confirmed that the officer in question does work in the investigation unit of Region 9 Highway Police. An investigation committee has been established and is expected to reach conclusions within days. The commander stated that whether further disciplinary action will be taken depends on the investigation results and emphasized commitment to fairness for both complainants and the accused.

In his preliminary statement, the sergeant clarified that he only played hi-lo during a home gathering with extended family during the festival season and denies operating a gambling den as alleged.

Shop owners in Muang Phatthalung report that the sergeant regularly collects 1,000-2,000 baht in 'protection fees' from snack and general stores throughout the province, not just in Muang District. They noted this is not exclusive to this sergeant, as water police and railway police also collect similar fees.

On April 30, 2025, the Criminal Court on Ratchadamri Road held a sentencing hearing in case number Or.526/2568, with the Public Prosecutor's Office Section 9 prosecuting 39-year-old Sarunrat, also known as Am cyanide, on charges of premeditated murder. This is the fourth case involving the defendant. The charges stem from August 9, 2022, when the defendant allegedly poisoned the food and beverages of Police Lieutenant Colonel Sukanada Wimolmalai, known as Nui, a former deputy financial officer at Phu Pha Man Police Station in Khon Kaen Province, ultimately causing her death. The defendant denied the charges and contested the case by claiming alibi.

During the hearing, prison officials brought Am cyanide to court, where she wore dark sunglasses and maintained a composed demeanor to hear the court's verdict. The court analyzed testimony and evidence from both sides and found that on the day of the incident, the defendant and victim traveled together to a fortune teller's temple to consult about job positions, duties, and the victim's romantic matters. Prosecution witnesses testified that they saw the defendant frequently entering and exiting the temple and making phone calls, and later persuading the victim to leave the fortune-telling session.

Afterward, they dined together in Nakhon Pathom Province before parting ways. The victim subsequently suffered a car accident on a roadside in Kanchanaburi Province while heading home. Rescue workers reported finding the victim unconscious, and she later died. Prosecution witnesses testified that the victim died from heart failure, and toxicology reports confirmed the presence of cyanide in her body. Medical experts confirmed the victim died from respiratory system failure caused by cyanide poisoning.

Multiple prosecution witnesses provided consistent testimony, including one who confirmed the defendant purchased cyanide and was the last person with the victim while in possession of the poison. The court found the prosecution's evidence compelling and credible, with no apparent motive for false testimony. The defendant's defense arguments contained suspicious contradictions and failed to refute the prosecution's evidence. The court ruled the defendant guilty as charged and initially imposed a death sentence.

However, considering the defendant's helpful testimony as somewhat mitigating, the court reduced the sentence by one-third to life imprisonment and ordered this sentence to run consecutively after the defendant's previous two convictions of death sentence and life imprisonment from the same court.

Reports indicate this is the fourth conviction for Am cyanide on murder charges. Previous cases include: Case 1 resulted in a death sentence for poisoning Siriporn Khanvongse; Case 2 involved poisoning Nipha, a female police officer, initially sentenced to death but reduced to life imprisonment due to helpful testimony; Case 3 involved the poisoning death of young engineer Nittaya Kaewbuppha in Nakhon Pathom, which was dismissed due to insufficient evidence that the defendant possessed cyanide or had motive for property gain.

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This historic gathering brings together multi-generational artists to celebrate the charm of Suntaraporn's music once more. Leading the lineup are National Artist and legendary singers Ruangtong Thongluntham, Rungrudee Paengphongchai, Ponsuli Wichawech, and Oravi Satchanon, joined by quality artists including Kan-Naphatthorn, Pan-Thanaporn, Thatch-Kittithatch, Sphai-Phaskorn, Pingping-Sarawee, and rising stars from the new generation of Suntaraporn musicians. The event will be hosted by Note-Shranny Kungbarphot.

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