Jailed former Thai PM Thaksin to be released on Feb 18

Thaksin Shinawatra, a former Prime Minister of Thailand, was originally sentenced to eight years in prison for graft and abuse-of-power charges. However, his sentence was reduced to one year by King Maha Vajiralongkorn within days of the reduction. The exact release date was uncertain until Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong announced that Sunday was the first day of Shinawatra's parole eligibility.