The Department of Corrections spokesperson revealed the general parole timeline for Thaksin Shinawatra who is expected to be released on probation on 9 May 2026
Regarding the case, Pol. Lt. Gen. Ruthapol Navarattana, Minister of Justice, gave an interview at Government House about former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, currently imprisoned at Klong Prem Central Prison under a one-year sentence from the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders. Thaksin has been incarcerated for 5 months so far, and upon completing 8 months on 9 May 2026, he will have served two-thirds of the one-year sentence, qualifying him for consideration in the general parole program. The parole eligibility is based on standard criteria; there is nothing special in his case. Once two-thirds of the sentence is served, parole applications proceed normally through the prison committee, then the Department of Corrections committee, and finally the Ministry of Justice committee, which includes about five directors or equivalent officials. The process follows usual conditions, typically with applications submitted before reaching the parole eligibility date. Once approved, parole can be granted immediately. Thaksin’s parole is scheduled for May 2026, in line with the regulation requiring two-thirds of the sentence served to qualify, as previously reported.
On 25 February 2026, Mr. Yutthana Nakruangsri, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Corrections and spokesperson, explained the general parole timeline and review process for Thaksin Shinawatra. The procedure begins with a prison-level committee determining which inmates qualify for parole consideration. After compiling the list of eligible inmates, the prison submits it to the Department of Corrections committee for further screening, before forwarding it to the final level, the Ministry of Justice committee.
Currently, the committee at Klong Prem Central Prison has not finalized the list of inmates eligible for general parole to submit to the Department of Corrections committee, so the total number is not yet known. However, the principle requires submitting the list one to two months in advance. It is understood that fewer than 500 inmates at Klong Prem Central Prison meet the criteria for parole consideration.
The former Prime Minister’s sentence is one year. Therefore, the two-thirds criterion means he must have served 8 months to qualify for parole on probation. Since he entered the justice process on 9 September 2025, calculating the time means he will be eligible for release on probation on 9 May 2026. The parole decision requires approval at all three levels of committees.
Mr. Yutthana added that beyond the Department of Corrections’ role in overseeing inmates, if an inmate qualifies for parole, both the prison and the Probation Department will collaborate to investigate the inmate’s caretaker. The prison will send a request to the Probation Department to verify who the caretaker is, where they reside, their ability to care for the inmate, the location of the caretaker’s residence, and other relevant details.
The Probation Department will then designate the caretaker's residence as the parole location. They will also consult the prison regarding approval or disapproval of the parole. The prison’s committee, which includes the prison commander, correctional facility director, representatives from the Probation Department, local administration, police, and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, will convene to decide whether to approve parole. Their recommendation is forwarded to the Department of Corrections committee for further review before submission to the Ministry of Justice committee, which includes the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, police representatives, Ministry of Interior officials, and the Office of the Attorney General, for joint consideration.
Although 9 May 2026 falls on a Saturday, the authorities are committed to upholding the rights of inmates. If parole is granted, the prison will follow procedures to release the inmate. Around 7:00 to 8:00 a.m., officials will verify the inmate’s documents before family members arrive to take the inmate to the designated parole location as specified by the caretaker.
However, if the parolee violates any conditions during the probation period, they must be returned immediately to prison to serve the remaining sentence. In the former Prime Minister's case, since the sentence is only one year, electronic monitoring (EM) devices are not required. Instead, he must report as scheduled to the Probation Office. Having served two-thirds (8 months) by May, he will spend only 4 months on probation, completing the full one-year term. Upon completing probation, he will receive a certificate of clemency from the prison.