Thailand officially frees ex-PM Thaksin after royal pardon

Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is now a free man, with the Department of Corrections officially confirming his release following a royal pardon. The 76-year-old had served eight months of a one-year sentence for corruption and abuse of power. His release on parole last month was attributed to his age and health conditions. A condition of his parole was the wearing of an electronic monitoring device, which has now been removed. Thaksin, a significant figure in modern Thai politics, was among those eligible for the royal pardon granted on June 3, marking Queen Suthida's birthday. The pardon was given because he had less than a year remaining on his sentence. The Department of Corrections stated that Thaksin is no longer subject to criminal punishment or supervision, emphasizing that the same standards applied to other eligible parolees. Thailand frequently grants royal pardons to prisoners with good conduct during major royal occasions. Thaksin, a telecoms billionaire, previously served two terms as prime minister before a 2006 military coup led to over a decade of self-imposed exile. He returned to Thailand in 2023. Despite his family's political influence, his party recently recorded its worst election result, raising questions about his continued political sway.

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The prison issued the official release documents and certificate of discharge to Thaksin.