Inmates freed as part of Thailand's celebrations of 80th Queen birthday

BANGKOK, August 16 (TNA) - The Ministry of Justice's Department of Corrections on Thursday freed some 30,000 inmates from prisons nationwide, as part of Thailand's grand celebrations this year for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's 80th birthday on August 12 and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn's 60th birthday on July 28. The Thai government gave a travel allowance of 500 baht each to the released inmates. In Bangkok, some 1,600 inmates were freed at the Khlong Prem Central Prison amid a warm welcome by their relatives. In Rayong province in the Thai East, 224 inmates were freed, 211 men and 13 women, from the province's central prison. In Loei province in the Thai Northeast, 120 selected inmates who were imprisoned for minor offences were released under the royal pardon for their good behavior so that they have an opportunity to be good citizens for the society. In Yala province in the Thai far South, 83 inmates also were released from the Yala Central Prison. (TNA)