KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand is to give 30,000 prisoners royal pardons as part of this year's celebrations for the birthday of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Sirikit, police officials said. Director-Deneral Col. Suchart Wonganandchai said an announcement published in the Royal Gazette on Saturday in conjunction with the Queen's 80th birthday on August 12 and the 60th birthday of the Crown Prince, which was celebrated on July 28, “the Royal clemency was granted for the release of about 30,000 prisoners.” Prisoners entitled and received the Royal pardon are reportedly elderly prisoners, sick and those having less than one-year left on their sentences, he said. Of the total, about 10,000 prisoners will be set free this week, while the rest will be released within 60 days after the announcement was published in the Royal Gazette. In the past years, prisoners are usually released or have their terms reduced on birthday celebrations of the Royal family members.
