39 prisoners fitted with EM bracelets and released in bid to reducing congestion in prisons

EM ankle bracelets have been fitted on 39 prisoners upon their release. “We expect to use EM bracelets on 87,700 prisoners per year to reduce the overcrowding within prisons and increase monitoring capability to reduce the chance of repeat offences by released prisoners,” he said.
“Three groups of prisoners would be considered to be fitted with EM bracelets: those whose sentence was reduced by a royal pardon, those who were waiting for test results, and parolees,” added Somsak. “EM bracelets would not be used with prisoners who committed serious or violent crimes, as they could still be dangerous to the society.
“To be eligible from wearing EM bracelets, prisoners must pass the evaluation on risk of committing repeat offences. There are also other conditions, such as they must not leave or enter specified areas after being released,” he said. “Released prisoners must wear the EM bracelet for one year, which is the period when repeat offences are likely to have occurred.”
Among the 39 prisoners who were released and fitted with EM bracelets are two former politicians: former interior minister and Pheu Thai Party ex-leader Yongyuth Wichaidit (78), who was handed a two-year imprisonment sentence in the Alpine Golf Club land-graft case, and Plodprasop Suraswadi (75), former deputy prime minister during the Yingluck Shinawatra administration, who was handed a one year and eight months imprisonment sentence for wrongfully exercising his functions to the injury of other persons. Both received paroles due to old age and displaying good behaviour after serving eight and six months respectively.