Ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole this morning, after serving eight months in prison, walking out of Bangkok Remand Prison to cheers from supporters and an emotional reunion with members of the Shinawatra family.
Large crowds of supporters, many dressed in red, the signature colour associated with the ruling Pheu Thai party, had been gathering outside Klong Prem Central Prison since yesterday to welcome Thaksin.
Metropolitan Police Division 2 deployed officers around the prison overnight to maintain security and order.
Corrections Department officials also set up designated media areas and installed barriers around the prison compound, limiting access to authorised personnel only.
As a condition of his parole, Thaksin was fitted with an electronic monitoring (EM) bracelet before his release. He was also briefed on the use of the device and completed documentation related to the probation process.
Within three days of his release he is required to report to Bangkok Probation Office 1, which oversees the area of his registered residence, to acknowledge formally the conditions of his parole.
At 7.41am, Thaksin emerged from the prison wearing a white shirt and dark blue trousers, smiling as he embraced family members and greeted supporters waiting outside.
According to the planned schedule, prison officials began processing his release documents at 6am, which took about 45 minutes. Thaksin then attended the prison’s morning national anthem ceremony before greeting supporters and the media outside the gates.
After leaving the prison, Thaksin travelled with his daughter, former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, to Bangkok Probation Office 1 in Bangkok Noi district for procedures related to the EM bracelet and reporting whilst on parole.
He was then expected to return to Ban Chan Song La, the Shinawatra family residence, where relatives had arranged a family lunch to mark his first day back home following his release.
