Thailand officially frees former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra after he receives a royal pardon. Multiple outlets report that King Maha Vajiralongkorn grants the clemency as part of a broader pardon initiative linked to the June 3 birthday of Queen Suthida. After meeting the conditions for the pardon, Thaksin is released on parole and no longer serves the remainder of his sentence.
The reports say Thaksin, 76, had been serving a one-year sentence tied to corruption and abuse-of-power convictions, and he spent about eight months in prison before his parole release was arranged. His age and health are cited by some sources as factors in his parole and release timing.
According to the justice and corrections authorities described in the reporting, his release includes monitoring requirements. One outlet says he is required to wear an electronic monitoring device as part of parole conditions.
Several sources also note his next move, with Bloomberg and Japan Times reporting that Thaksin plans to travel to Dubai after the pardon, where he previously had a base during a long period of exile.
