Bangkok Post
Thaksin granted royal-birthday pardon
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Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been named among those granted a royal pardon in celebration of Her Majesty the Queen’s 4th cycle birthday anniversary, Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat said on Wednesday.
Key facts
- Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been named among those granted a royal pardon in celebration of Her Majesty the Queen’s 4th cycle birthday anniversary, Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat said on Wednesday.
- The justice minister confirmed that Thaksin's name appeared on the list of pardon recipients
- The ousted prime minister is being released in accordance with Section 8 of the 2026 Royal Decree on Royal Pardons because he has less than one year of his sentence remaining.
- Mr Thaksin was, prior to the announcement, on a four-month probationary parole that began on May 11 and was scheduled to complete his sentence on Sept 9, 2026
- Mr Thaksin, 76, was sent to prison on Sept 9 last year, when the Supreme Court ordered him to actually serve his one-year sentence for abuse of authority and conflict of interest while serving as prime minister prior to 2006.
- The court said it did not recognise his prolonged stay in a VIP ward at the Police General Hospital between 2023 and 2024 as qualifying for prison time
Summary
The justice minister confirmed that Thaksin's name appeared on the list of pardon recipients. He did not say how many were on the list.
Asked to clarify Mr Thaksin's legal status, and whether he would have to complete the remaining one month and 10 days of his sentence, Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon said the former premier would be released from his sentence immediately.