Somchai Khunploem, better known as Kamnan Poh and "God Father of Chon Buri", has been moved from Chon Buri Hospital back to the Corrections Department's hospital in Bangkok, department chief Withaya Suriyawong said on Tuesday.
Mr Withaya said Somchai had been treated for a number of chronic diseases, including a heart ailment, diabetes and Parkinson's, at Chon Buri Hospital for a long time. Since he is a convict serving a sentence for crime the Corrections Department had to assign two officers to guard him around the clock -- a wasteful use of personnel.
He had therefore ordered that Somchai be moved back to the Corrections Department's hospital at Lat Yao in Bangkok, Mr Withaya said.
Somchai, 78, once one of the most powerful figures in Chon Buri, was sentenced to 25 years for masterminding the murder of his political rival Prayoon Sitthichoke at a wedding reception in March 2003.
He was also sentenced to three years and four months in prison on a separate charge of abuse of power charge while serving as mayor of Saen Suk municipality.
Somchai was out on bail and failed to show up when the Supreme Court delivered judgement in the first case, and the court issued a warrant for his arrest.
After six years on the run, Somchai was recaptured by Crime Suppressionn Division police on Jan 30, 2013 at Lat Krabang toll gate during surreptitious visit to Bangkok for medical treatment. He was initially imprisoned in Bangkok and later moved to Chon Buri Prison on Feb 4, 2013.
Because of illness, he was again moved, this time to Chon Buri Hospital for treatment while in detention.