25,000 prisoners pardoned in Thailand

More than 10,000 prisoners were granted a royal pardon and released in Thailand today in a traditional Buddhist gift of amnesty.

The prisoners were the first of 25,000 inmates to be released over 60 days as part of a merit-making ritual to celebrate Queen Sirikit’s 72nd birthday, said Nathee Chitsawang, deputy director general of the Corrections Department.

About 50,000 more prisoners have had their sentences reduced, he said.

The freed prisoners included some foreigners, who will be sent to immigration police to be deported, Nathee said.

Further details about them were not immediately available.