Former Thai PM Thaksin Receives Royal Pardon, Parole Ends Sunday

By Kenny Teng Khoon Hock

BANGKOK, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has received a royal pardon, ending his parole on Sunday, according to his lawyer, Winyat Chartmontri. 

"The earlier finish comes as part of a general royal pardon for 7,500 prisoners with good conduct on the occasion of His Majesty the King’s birthday last month," local Thai media quoted Winyat as saying.

The media reported that the pardon was among those announced by the Royal Gazette on Saturday, which stated that a Royal Decree was issued to grant a royal pardon to around 50,000 inmates in conjunction with King Maha Vajiralongkorn's sixth Cycle Birthday Anniversary on July 28.

It was reported that the decree also provides sentence reductions to more than 200,000 prisoners who are currently serving time.

Thaksin, 74, will be among those released immediately under the terms of this decree, allowing him to leave prison before his sentence ends on Aug 31. 

Thaksin returned to Thailand on Aug 22 last year after a 15-year self-imposed exile after he was handed down a prison sentence for misdeeds committed while in office. 

On the day of his arrival in Thailand, the Supreme Court sentenced the former prime minister to eight years in prison.

On Sept 1, his jail term was reduced to one year through royal clemency. 

The latest development came a day after Thaksin’s daughter and leader of the Pheu Thai Party, Paetongtarn, 37, was elected as Thailand’s new prime minister, replacing Sreetha Thavisin who was removed from office by the Thai Constitutional Court on Wednesday due to a violation of appointing a minister with a criminal conviction to his Cabinet in April this year. 

--  BERNAMA