His Majesty the King has issued a royal decree granting a royal pardon to prisoners to mark his accession to the throne.
The royal decree, issued on Dec 10, was published in the Royal Gazette on Sunday and was counter-signed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. It is to take effect today.
Under the royal decree, a royal pardon is granted to prisoners sentenced to no more than three months in jail for minor offences, prisoners who do community or public service instead of paying fines, and prisoners released on parole. Other convicted prisoners who have been pardoned include the disabled and blind, those suffering from cancer, leprosy, HIV, chronic kidney failure, mental disorders, and first-time prisoners who are not 20 years of age on the day the decree comes into effect.