Former prime minister and de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra was granted a royal pardon, becoming a free man following a royal decree issued to mark Her Majesty Queen Suthida’s 48th birthday on 3 June 2026..
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The pardon applies to a number of inmates and parolees and has resulted in Thaksin’s remaining legal restrictions being lifted. His electronic monitoring (EM) bracelet will be removed and his obligation to report monthly to a Bangkok probation office was automatically terminated.
Thaksin had previously been released on parole and was residing at his Chan Song Lah residence on the Thonburi side of Bangkok. He had served an eight-month prison term at Klong Prem prison and was due to complete a further four months on parole before becoming fully free in September.
The former prime minister had been convicted of misconduct during his previous premiership and was sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison. Following his return to Thailand after 17 years in self-imposed exile overseas, his sentence was reduced to one year under an earlier royal pardon.
Thaksin did not serve time in prison immediately after his return and instead spent six months at Police Hospital as a patient before being released on parole. His stay at the hospital later became the subject of controversy.
Thaksin was subsequently returned to prison following an order by the Supreme Court. Several senior officials from the Corrections Department and Police Hospital were charged with duty negligence and misconduct over allegations of conspiring to improperly favour him and circumvent relevant laws and regulations.
The ThaiNewsRoom reported that the royal pardon granted on 3 June brings an immediate end to Thaksin’s parole conditions and completes his legal sentence ahead of the original September timetable.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Thainewsroom 3 June 2026
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