Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra walked free from Klongprem Central Prison on Monday morning after being granted parole, drawing a large gathering of relatives, political allies, and supporters outside the Bangkok detention facility.
The former premier exited the prison compound in Chatuchak district at approximately 7:44am wearing a white button-up shirt and blue trousers.
Looking noticeably older with shorter greying hair, he stopped briefly to greet waiting supporters and embrace members of his family.
Among those gathered outside were Pheu Thai Party figures and red-shirt loyalists, many of whom cheered as Thaksin made his way toward a waiting Mercedes-Maybach.
As the Thai national anthem played nearby, the 76-year-old stood in respect before entering a Mercedes-Maybach shortly afterwards. The vehicle departed the prison grounds at around 7:56am while supporters crowded around the car.
The luxury sedan moved slowly through the gathering with its rear windows fully lowered. Seated in the back, Thaksin repeatedly offered “wais” to supporters lining the route.
Under the conditions of his parole, Thaksin is required to wear an electronic monitoring (EM) bracelet until September 9.
He was among 859 inmates granted general parole in accordance with Department of Corrections regulations.
Authorities have also instructed Thaksin to report to Bangkok Probation Office 1 within three days of his release, as his registered residence — Ban Chan Song La in Bang Phlat district — falls under its supervision. He is expected to continue monthly check-ins throughout the parole period.
Thaksin has remained in custody since September 9 last year after the Supreme Court ruled that he must serve a one-year prison sentence related to abuse of authority and conflict of interest offences committed while serving as prime minister prior to 2006.
The court previously determined that his lengthy stay in a VIP ward at Police General Hospital during 2023 and 2024 could not be counted as official prison time.
As of May 11, Thaksin had completed two-thirds of his sentence, meeting the minimum requirement for parole eligibility.
On September 9, 2025, the Supreme Court ordered him to serve the one-year jail term originally handed down two years earlier on August 22, 2023.
Judges also ruled that Thaksin’s transfer from Bangkok Remand Prison to Police General Hospital shortly after his return to Thailand in August 2023 was not legally justified, despite claims that he had suffered chest pain.
Thaksin returned to Thailand on August 22, 2023 after 15 years in self-imposed exile abroad. Following his arrival, he was transferred to Police General Hospital, where he remained instead of serving time in prison until he was first granted parole in early 2024.
