Convicted Thaksin set to walk free on parole in May

Imprisoned former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will become eligible for release on parole in May and whether he will be required to wear an electronic monitoring device will be decided by a sentence reduction panel, according to a statement issued yesterday by the Corrections Department.

Thaksin, who was convicted and sentenced to one year in prison on corruption charges, will become eligible for parole on May 10 and, subject to approval, will be freed the following day.

He is currently incarcerated in Klong Prem Central Prison under a ruling of the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions. He began serving his sentence on September 9 last year and is scheduled to complete his term on September 9.

The department stated that, under the regulations, Thaksin will be eligible for parole once he has served two-thirds of his one-year sentence.

The department emphasised that consideration of parole for each convicted prisoner is carried out strictly in accordance with the law and human rights principles, without discrimination.