The Department of Corrections clarifies the issue of conditional release and EM bracelet removal for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. These actions were carried out according to legal procedures, with a certificate of clearance properly issued.
On 9 June 2026, the Department of Corrections issued a statement concerning the conditional release of Thaksin, emphasizing equality and full compliance with the criteria of the 2026 Royal Pardon Decree and all relevant laws. It stated that
the Department of Corrections received approval from the Subcommittee for Consideration of Sentence Suspension to grant ordinary sentence suspension to Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, former Prime Minister, and released him under supervision with an electronic monitoring device (EM) from Klong Prem Central Prison on 11 May 2026. The probation period was set for 4 months and 1 day, during which he has complied fully with all probation conditions.
The Department explained that the Royal Pardon Decree of 2026 came into effect on 3 June 2026. Mr. Thaksin, as a "person released under supervision" under the corrections law, has not violated any conditions of the sentence suspension and thus qualifies for royal pardon release under Section 7, specifically under Section 8 (2)(a), as he was at least 60 years old on the decree’s effective date, with no more than 3 years remaining on his custodial sentence as of that date.
To ensure lawful, proper, and transparent compliance, under Section 21 of the 2026 Royal Pardon Decree and the Ministry of Justice’s order appointing a committee to verify pardon recipients, it was resolved to grant Mr. Thaksin conditional release under the law. The Department of Probation proceeded to remove the EM device according to legal procedures, and the prison issued a certificate of release (Form RT.25) confirming his clearance.
Therefore, Thaksin Shinawatra is legally considered fully released under the corrections law, ending all criminal sentence supervision and related conditions, just like other individuals who have been conditionally released and meet the criteria of the said Royal Pardon Decree.