Thailand resumed executions in 1996 after a break of 9 years

Thailand resumed executions in 1996 after a break of 9 years. Under a 1942 capital punishment law, convicts sentenced to death by Thai courts are executed by machine gun. Art. 247 of the Criminal Code states that the death penalty can only be carried out after the provision of the code governing pardons has been complied with. Division VII of the code - concerning pardons, commutation of sentences and reduction of punishments - stipulates that the death sentence can only be carried out 60 days after the final verdict. But the execution must be suspended if the convict petitions for or there is a recommendation for a pardon. The suspension period is 60 days, starting from the date on which the state counselor from the Interior Ministry submitted the petition or recommendation to His Majesty the King. If the petition is rejected before the expiry of the 60 day period, the execution can be carried out immediately. On the other hand, if the petition is neither rejected nor accepted within the suspension period, the execution may take place once the suspension period has expired, according to the judge.