From the Sydney Morning Herald:

Harry Nicolaides, the Australian facing three years in jail for insulting the Thai monarchy, has been recommended for a royal pardon by Thai corrections department officials. …

Thai corrections department officials said yesterday that a recommendation had been made for a royal pardon from King Bhumipol Adulyadej. But the complete documentation was still to be finalised, the department said. The investigation was in the final stages, with further evidence pending from the court.

A spokesman said: “We are waiting for evidence from the court and we will make a petition to the minister and then send it to the king. We continue to recommend pardoning Harry [but the process] is not finished yet. We are waiting for when we get the evidence, then it will be finished to sign, then continue to the king.”

A one-month limit for Nicolaides’s lawyers to lodge an appeal to his jail sentence lapses this week. Once passed, this would allow for the pardon to be presented to the Justice Minister and then to the royal palace. Corrections department officials said notification of the pardon could take place within the next month.

A human rights lawyer, Somchai Homlaor, said the department’s recommendation was very important in that it would clear the way for the granting of a pardon. “I believe that with this recommendation [Nicolaides] will be granted a pardon from His Majesty.” …