Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been granted parole without the requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device, with his release set for May 11.
The decision was finalised on Wednesday after a review by a Ministry of Justice parole panel, which assessed more than 500 inmates across the country who met eligibility criteria under standard parole guidelines.
The panel determined that Thaksin, who is currently detained at Klong Prem Central Prison, qualified for early release and would be exempt from wearing an EM ankle bracelet due to his age and existing health conditions.
Now 76, Thaksin has been in custody since September 9 last year, when the Supreme Court of Thailand ordered him to serve a one-year sentence for abuse of authority and conflict of interest stemming from his tenure as prime minister prior to 2006.
The court previously ruled that his extended stay in a VIP ward at Police General Hospital during 2023–24 could not be counted as time served in prison.
By May 11, he will have completed two-thirds of his sentence, meeting the minimum requirement for parole eligibility.
The meeting, chaired by Tharinee Saengsawang, deputy permanent secretary of the ministry, lasted more than three hours.
It brought together representatives from several agencies, including the Department of Corrections, Department of Probation, Department of Rights and Liberties Protection, Office of the Attorney-General and the Royal Thai Police.
Officials from the corrections department said the resolution would be forwarded to prison authorities and probation officers to prepare for his release. Following his discharge, Thaksin will remain under probation supervision for the remaining four months of his sentence.
Under standard probation terms, parolees must report regularly to officials, reside at an approved address, obey the law and avoid conduct that could lead to reoffending.
Travel outside designated areas requires prior approval, and any violations may result in the revocation of parole.
