On August 25 last year, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders had sentenced Surapong to a one-year imprisonment. He was found guilty of dereliction of duty for authorising, while he served as the ICT minister, an amendment of a concession that allowed Shin Corp to reduce its required minimum shareholding in its satellite affiliate Shin Satellite – now renamed Thaicom – from 51 per cent to 40 per cent.

Surapong, 59, was released on Tuesday at 6pm, Corrections Department director-general Kobkiat Kasiwiwat said on Wednesday.

The former minister was released early after the agency’s parole committee acknowledged his good behaviour after taking into account his status as a “first-class inmate”.

Following his early release, Surapong is required to report to parole officers regularly and follow the set conditions till the completion of his full jail term on August 25, according to the Corrections Department chief.