Corrections Department says Thaksin eligible for parole on 9 May

2026-02-25 - 09:03

BANGKOK – 25 February 2026, The Department of Corrections says former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is eligible for parole on 9 May after serving two-thirds of his one-year sentence. Yutthana Nakruangsee, deputy director-general and spokesman of the Department of Corrections, said the Central Klong Prem Prison committee has yet to finalise the list of inmates eligible for general parole for submission to the department-level committee. He said Thaksin is serving a one-year (12-month) sentence. Under the two-thirds rule for general parole, an inmate must have served eight months. Thaksin entered the justice process on 9 Sept 2025. Based on that calculation, he would be eligible for release on parole on 9 May 2026. Under procedures, parole consideration begins at the prison committee level. Once eligible names are compiled, they are forwarded to the department committee for screening before being submitted to the final stage, the Justice Ministry committee. Yutthana said that although 9 May falls on a Saturday, authorities are obliged to uphold inmates’ rights. If parole is approved, the prison must release the inmate in accordance with procedures. From about 07:00–08:00, officials will verify documents before relatives collect the parolee and take him to the residence registered with probation authorities. If parole conditions are violated, the individual will be returned immediately to prison to serve the remainder of the sentence. In Thaksin’s case, as the sentence is relatively short at one year, electronic monitoring will not be required, Yutthana said. He must report to probation officers as scheduled. After completing the remaining four months on parole, he will have served the full one-year term, ending on 9 Sept 2026, and will then receive a certificate of release from prison.