Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is released on parole after serving part of a reduced prison sentence for corruption. Multiple outlets report that the 76-year-old telecoms billionaire had been jailed in September for corruption following his return to Thailand after years of self-imposed exile. He leaves prison after serving about eight months of a one-year term. Bloomberg reports the sentence reduction is linked to a royal pardon, after which he is granted early release on May 11. Other reports say he is required to wear an electronic monitoring device during a four-month probation period following his parole. Reporting also notes that Thaksin’s release renews attention on Thailand’s political landscape, where his family’s influence and the Shinawatra-backed party’s strength have shifted over time. Several sources describe supporters gathering outside the jail, including people wearing red shirts associated with Thaksin, as he is seen with family members after his release. Across outlets, the key common elements are his September corruption conviction and detention, the early parole after eight months, and the conditions imposed during the probation period.