Thaksin’s pardon: Royal flush for the former PM’s clean slate

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is set to be handed a certificate of innocence within the next 120 days. The Department of Corrections (DoC) revealed the stunning news following a massive royal pardon granted to tens of thousands of prisoners yesterday, August 18.

The royal decree, unveiled on the Royal Gazette website yesterday, celebrates His Majesty the King’s 72nd birthday on July 28. Thaksin, who was slapped with a one-year jail term due to end on August 31, is among the lucky beneficiaries of this unprecedented clemency.

DoC Director-General Sahakarn Phetnarin confirmed that Thaksin’s release is a done deal and his Section 6 certificate of innocence will be issued within the promised 120-day period.

“Thaksin is now a free man, and we are following the procedure to issue his certificate of innocence.”

The process requires provincial governors, prison chiefs, judges, and prosecutors to compile lists of pardoned prisoners and submit them to the courts. The courts will then issue the certificates. Thaksin’s case will be handled by the chief of the Thon Buri Special Remand Prison, who will forward his details to the Thon Buri Criminal Court, Sahakarn added.

“We cannot specify the exact duration of the process because Thaksin is not the only one who has received a royal pardon.”

According to Section 67 of the Corrections Act 2017, a certificate of innocence serves as proof that the individual has been legally discharged and is cleared to travel abroad.

Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong noted that nearly 31,000 prisoners nationwide will be freed as a result of the royal pardon. Additionally, 8,000 individuals currently on parole will be permanently released.

The issuance of a certificate of innocence is a significant step in Thaksin’s legal journey, allowing him to travel internationally without legal hindrances. The royal pardon and subsequent release mark a notable moment in the ongoing narrative of Thailand’s legal and political landscape, reported Bangkok Post.