The Treaty on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and the Treaty on the Prisoner Transfer Treaty between Thailand and Belgium

Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand and Mr. Steven Vanackere, Deputy Permanent-Secretary and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium, met on 23 June 2010 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium in Brussels to exchange the Instruments of Ratification of the Treaty between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Kingdom of Belgium on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and the Treaty between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Kingdom of Belgium on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and on Co-operation in the Enforcement of Penal Sentences, signed at Bangkok on 12 November 2005.

The Exchange of the Instruments of Ratification will bring these two Treaties into force 30 days following the date of the Exchange of the Instruments of Ratification, pursuant to its Article 29 of the MLAT and Article 13 of Prisoner Transfer Treaty. For Thailand, the Act on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters B.E. 2535 (1992) is the enabling legislation of the MLAT and the Act on Co-operation between States in the Execution of Penal Sentences B.E. 2527 (1984) is the enabling legislation of the Prisoner Transfer Treaty.

Thailand attaches great importance to the main objective of both Treaties which enhances the effectiveness of international criminal co-operation. The MLAT aims at providing the widest mutual assistance in investigation, prosecutions, and other proceedings relating to criminal offences. The Prisoner Transfer Treaty aims at facilitating rehabilitation of offenders and provides conditions for which sentenced persons, who have already served the minimum period of imprisonment, to be transferred back to their own country to serve the remaining sentence. These Treaties, therefore, serve as mechanisms which help further strengthening co-operation in law enforcement and in the administration of justice between the two countries.

For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th