YOUNG OFFENDER: 'CORRUPT OFFICER RUINED MY LIFE'

PM Hears Prisoner's Tale Of Woe; Women Detainees Set For Rehabilitation, Parole

A tearful young woman recounted to the PM yesterday how a police sting had
lured her into illegal drug trades.

The 19-year-old was a university student before she was arrested and jailed
for four years for the possession of 10 methamphetamine tablets with the
intent to sell.

The young woman, who has two years and seven months of her jail term
remaining, complained to VIP guests including Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra at the Narcotics Control Board, who were there to mark the
board's 27th anniversary. "My life would not have been ruined if it wasn't
for an undercover policeman who repeatedly asked me to sell him ya ba," she
said.

"In my student days, I admit that myself and half of my friends were
regular users of drugs, including ya ba, ecstasy and cocaine.

"I did not think about peddling drugs until I met the policeman" she added.

She said the undercover agent had sucked her in with talk of making quick
money.

"Now I am in jail while the officer got the credit for another drug bust,"
she said.

Prime Minister Thaksin was interested in the girl's story and spent some
time chatting privately with her.

He said although his government was having successes in its fight against
illegal drugs, the girl, and others like her might have had a rough deal.

"It is the policy of my government to grant early parole for first-time
drug offenders who are not gang members or traffickers. Small-time
offenders must enter a rehabilitation programme following their release,"
he said.

Justice Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana said the first batch of 5,000 female
drug offenders would soon be sent to a rehabilitation centre run by the Army.

The rehabilitation programme runs for six months and male convicts will
make up the second batch.

All told, some 100,000 drug convicts have been selected for early parole
and rehabilitation.