Thai panel clears Thaksin parole, release set for May 11 without EM bracelet

Thailand’s Justice Ministry parole panel approved Thaksin Shinawatra’s release on Wednesday, April 29, clearing the former prime minister to leave prison on May 11 without an electronic monitoring bracelet. The decision, which drew attention in Phuket and across the country, followed standard parole rules after officials said he had met the required threshold on a one-year sentence.

He is expected to be freed on the morning of May 11 and will then enter a four-month probation period ending on Sept. 9.

Age and health rules allow EM bracelet exemption

Officials said Thaksin, who is over 70, qualifies for an exemption from wearing an EM device under regulations covering elderly inmates and those with health considerations.

His lawyer, Winyat Chatmontree, had earlier said such an exemption was likely, pending formal confirmation from authorities.

Sentence timeline and review process

Authorities said Thaksin became eligible after serving more than two-thirds of his sentence. As of the approval date, he had reportedly served about seven months and 20 days and was due to complete the two-thirds threshold on May 10.

He has been held at Klong Prem Central Prison. The Corrections Department had already advanced the case through preliminary reviews before the Justice Ministry panel gave final approval.

Thaksin was sentenced to one year in prison on charges tied to his return to Thailand and a prior stay in an exclusive VIP hospital suite in 2023.

Justice Ministry officials said the parole decision followed the same legal criteria applied to inmates generally and was not treated as a special exception.

Source: https://thephuketexpress.com/2026/04/29/thai-justice-ministry-panel-approves-thaksin-shinawatras-parole-cleared-for-release-on-may-11th-without-em-bracelet/