BANGKOK, Aug 16 – A first batch of 10,000 inmates have been released from prisons nationwide as part of a royal pardon to celebrate this year’s birthdays of HM Queen Sirikit and HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Royal clemency was granted for the release of about 30,000 prisoners in accordance with the announcement published in the Royal Gazette in conjunction with the Queen’s 80th birthday on Aug 12 and the 60th birthday of the Crown Prince, celebrated on July 28,
The Corrections Department conducts a ceremony chaired by Preecha Thananan Vice Minister for Justice to release inmates at Klongprem Central Prison in Nonthaburi.
In Bangkok and adjacent provinces, 1,600 prisoners have been freed while the remainder has been freed from 143 other prisons across the country.
They will receive Bt500 each from the government for transportation.
Another group, 20,000 convicts who will receive reduced sentences, will be released later.
