The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged police to strictly follow regulations involving the seizure of assets following a complaint by an inmate that his belongings were not rightfully returned in the wake of a court ruling.
NHRC member Wasan Paileeklee said the police's failure to return confiscated property after a case has been concluded, or defendants proven innocent, is a violation of their rights.
Mr Wasan said the issue was brought to the NHRC's attention as it reviewed a complaint lodged by an inmate at Khao Bin prison in Ratchaburi, who has been trying to get his personal assets back from the police for 14 years.
The inmate claimed that police at Nakhon Chaisi station in Nakhon Pathom had confiscated several items including a gold ring, gold necklace and car registration document when arresting him in December 2006 on drug and firearm charges.
The Office of Narcotics Control Board also sent a letter to the Nakhon Chaisi police station in July 2007 to inform them there were no grounds to believe the suspect's assets were ill-gotten.
After the Supreme Court finally ruled not to seize those assets in October 2010, the inmate asked for his belongings to be returned, only to learn that several items had gone missing, said Mr Wasan.
Police offered cash worth 160,000 baht as compensation for the lost property when the complaint was filed with the NHRC, he said. However, the car registration document could not be recovered.
Mr Wasan said that police were negligent and had caused a loss of property.
He added that the NHRC would make recommendations to the Royal Thai Police (RTP) so that it takes steps to prevent this kind of incident from recurring and makes sure its officers strictly follow the rules.