It isn't like the West. In Thailand, a fixed-term prison sentence can often be reduced through a combination of good behaviour remission and royal amnesties granted on occasions such as the King's or Queen's birthday. Prisoners are therefore given a release date, although that date may change if they become eligible for sentence reductions. In some cases, particularly in more recent years, offenders have also been released under home detention with curfews and electronic monitoring. Former Prime Minister Thaksin is a well-known example of this. However, given the seriousness of these men's previous offences, they would not have been eligible for those types of early release arrangements. We do not know, and it has not been publicly stated, exactly how long he spent in prison, but considering the severity of his previous crimes, it would almost certainly have been a substantial period.
