Bangkok: The parole committee at Klong Prem Prison has approved parole for Thaksin Shinawatra and will forward the case to the Department of Corrections-level committee for consideration. Whether or not he will wear an EM (Electronic Monitoring) bracelet will depend on his health, age, and environment.

According to Thai News Agency, Klong Prem Central Prison today presented a list of eligible inmates to the parole committee. The committee approved 10 names of inmates who met the criteria for parole. The committee instructed the Klong Prem Central Prison commander to submit the names of these 10 inmates to the Department of Corrections. Thaksin Shinawatra is one of the 10 individuals who meet the general parole criteria. The next step involves the Department of Corrections-level committee reviewing and verifying the completeness of the documents according to the established criteria and conditions, a process expected to take approximately two months. Afterward, the names will be submitted to the subcommittee for final decision on parole, in accordance with Section 52 of the Corrections Act B.E. 2560 (2017).

Consideration will be given to various factors, such as the circumstances of the crime, the credibility and suitability of the sponsor to supervise the inmate and ensure compliance with the conditions, and behavior during incarceration that demonstrates credible reform and rehabilitation, including behavioral modification and development within the prison.

Once the Sub-committee for Parole Consideration or the Minister approves the parole and releases the inmate, the prison commander will be notified. Furthermore, the probation officer and local administrative officers or police in the area where the released inmate resides will be notified within a reasonable timeframe. The inmate must then report to the probation officer in their new location within the specified period. He must also comply with the conditions stipulated in Section 9 (Conditions that convicted prisoners released before the completion of their sentence must fulfill) of the Ministerial Regulation on the Benefits of Convicted Prisoners, B.E. 2562 (2019).

Regarding whether or not Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra will be fitted with an EM bracelet if he is granted parole and released on probation on May 11, 2026, this will depend on the discretion of the committee at each level, considering factors such as health and age (especially for prisoners over 70 years old), as well as the environment and safety of the probation facility and the surrounding community, and whether there is a risk of reoffending or other concerns.