Singaporean jailed on lese majeste charge granted royal pardon
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A Singaporean man sentenced to 15 years in jail under the lese majeste law has received a royal pardon and was freed on Wednesday.
Wanchai Tan, 63, has lived in Thailand for several decades and worked as a tour guide. He had served four years of his sentence.
He was arrested on April 6, 2009 for handing out documents deemed as violating the lese majeste laws during a red shirts demonstrations
He was welcomed at the prison gate by his wife and friends before being led by police to deal with his immigration status. It is expected that Wanchai will be deported shortly, as his residence permit has expired, said lawyer Arnon Nampa. “He will be sent beck to Singapore in the next few days,” Arnon said.
