Samut Prakan politician Chonsawat Asavahame (inset) was released on parole on Wednesday morning after his prison term was reduced by a pardon under the recent royal decree. (Post Today photos)Controversial Samut Prakan politician Chonsawat Asavahame was released from prison on Wednesday morning after serving about one year of his 18-month sentence for involvement in election fraud in 1999. Wasan Singkasaelit, deputy director-general of the Corrections Department, on Wednesday said Chonsawat had completed his term and was released in accordance with jail-time reduction. The son of fugitive veteran politician Vatana Asavahame, he was found guilty of dereliction of duty in connection with vote-count fraud during Samut Prakan municipal elections. The Samut Prakan prison has released 625 convicts, including Chonsawat, since the royal pardon decree was issued.

Source: Bangkok Post September 07, 2016 09:00 UTC