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SYDNEY (Reuters) - An Australian author jailed for three years for insulting Thailand's crown prince in a little-read 2005 novel has been freed and is expected to return home shortly, the Australian government said on Saturday.
The case against 41-year-old Harry Nicolaides, who was arrested in August, was one of a slew of lese-majeste investigations in Thailand that rights groups say are stifling freedom of speech and political dissent.
A spokesman for Australia's foreign ministry welcomed the decision by Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej to grant a royal pardon.
"We expect Mr Nicolaides will shortly be reunited with his family in Australia," the spokesman said, adding the author and teacher had been released from jail on Friday.
The ministry spokesman said Australia appreciated the "expeditious handling of the pardon" by the Thai authorities.
Earlier Nicolaides' Australian lawyer Mark Dean said that the pardon was granted on Thursday.
"We are very pleased that Harry's case has been able to be processed as quickly as it has been," Dean told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Lese-majeste, or insulting the monarchy, is a very serious offence in Thailand, where many people regard 81-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej as semi-divine. It is punishable by up to 15 years in prison although convictions, especially of foreigners, are rare and are normally followed quickly by a pardon.
A Swiss man, Roland Jufer, was sentenced to 10 years in 2007 for spraying black paint on pictures of the king but was pardoned at Thai New Year in mid-April after serving only four months. Jufer was deported as soon as he was released.
The case against 41-year-old Harry Nicolaides, who was arrested in August, was one of a slew of lese-majeste investigations in Thailand that rights groups say are stifling freedom of speech and political dissent.
A spokesman for Australia's foreign ministry welcomed the decision by Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej to grant a royal pardon.
"We expect Mr Nicolaides will shortly be reunited with his family in Australia," the spokesman said, adding the author and teacher had been released from jail on Friday.
The ministry spokesman said Australia appreciated the "expeditious handling of the pardon" by the Thai authorities.
Earlier Nicolaides' Australian lawyer Mark Dean said that the pardon was granted on Thursday.
"We are very pleased that Harry's case has been able to be processed as quickly as it has been," Dean told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Lese-majeste, or insulting the monarchy, is a very serious offence in Thailand, where many people regard 81-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej as semi-divine. It is punishable by up to 15 years in prison although convictions, especially of foreigners, are rare and are normally followed quickly by a pardon.
A Swiss man, Roland Jufer, was sentenced to 10 years in 2007 for spraying black paint on pictures of the king but was pardoned at Thai New Year in mid-April after serving only four months. Jufer was deported as soon as he was released.
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