Former television news anchor Sorayuth Suthassanachinda, jailed for eight years for embezzling 138 million baht in advertising fees from the Mass Communications Organisation of Thailand, will be released on parole on March 14, Corrections Department director-general Ayut Sinthoppan said on Tuesday.
The Supreme Court's passed final judgement on Sorayuth's case on Jan 21 last year, sending him to prison after he had been out on bail.
Mr Ayut said Sorayuth would be among up to 500 inmates to be freed on parol on March 14, as decided by a parole committee that met to consider a list of prisoners eligible for special release. He did not say when the meeting was held.
Prior to their release, Sorayuth and the other inmates being paroled would be required to attend a training programme.
On being released, he would be fitted with an electronic tag and have to report to parole officials periodically, as required.
On Feb 11, the parole committee wuld meet again to consider the special release of more inmates, the corrections chief said.
About 7,000 names would be submitted for consideration, but not all would necessarily be granted parole, Mr Ayut said.
After the release of all inmates qualified for parole, the number of inmates serving time in prisons nationwide would be reduced from 380,000 to about 320,000, he said.