国际英语新闻:Thai monarch grants amnesty for inmates on occasion of coronation rituals

BANGKOK, May 3 (Xinhua) -- His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn has granted amnesty to an unspecified number of inmates on occasion of coronation ceremonies, scheduled over the weekend.

A royal decree for the amnesty of inmates, issued on April 21 and declared in the Royal Gazette on Friday, was for the freed prisoners to behave themselves and return as good members of society.

Corrections Department Director General Narat Sawettanan announced on Friday that a number of inmates will be freed under the royal decree from 143 prisons nationwide.

The Department of Corrections will organize a ceremony for the freed inmates to express their allegiances to His Majesty the King upon their release from prisons, Narat said.

However, committees consisting of judges, public prosecutors and provincial governors are yet to take a 120-day time to decide which inmates will be pardoned and freed under the royal decree, Narat said.

Those who have been convicted on charges of perpetrating critical crimes such as human trafficking, drug dealing, murders and corruption will have less opportunity for freedom than others, according to the department chief.