Surachai Danwattananusorn, a leader of the Red Siam group of left-wing red shirts, has received a royal pardon and will be released from prison this afternoon, United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) chairwoman Tida Thawornseth said on Thursday.
Surachai, 71, was arrested and charged with five counts of lese majeste under Section 112 of the Criminal Code. The Criminal Court convicted and sentenced him to a total of 12 years and six months in jail.
Ms Tida said that Surachai would be released from the Bangkok Remand Prison on Thursday afternoon.
Surachai's convictions involved his speeches at Sanam Luang in Bangkok in 2009, Doi Sa Ket in Chiang Mai, the Imperial Department Store in Bangkok's Lat Phrao and a red-shirt rally in Udon Thani in 2010, and in Wang Thong Lang district of Bangkok in 2011.