Prison Defends Release of Inmates Before Mass Murder Case
The Department of Corrections defended its release of inmates connected to a mass murder case, stating both were freed upon completing court-ordered sentences and one was placed under post-release monitoring as required by law.
The Department of Corrections issued a clarification statement on August 1 responding to media and public questions about the prison system and the release of serious offenders back into society, which has raised public safety concerns and affected tourism in Chon Buri province. The department expressed sincere condolences to families of victims of this shocking incident and explained that both former inmates were strictly controlled under court sentences and released upon sentence completion.
Thana ("Pong") Geot Thong was transferred from Pattaya Special Prison to Rayong Central Prison on February 22, 2021, for attempted murder, illegal weapons violations, and drug offenses, with a sentence of 7 years, 7 months, and 25 days, expiring on June 5, 2026. Throughout his imprisonment, he received no special benefits such as royal pardons, sentence suspension, or time reduction and was released upon sentence completion as ordered by the court.
Before his release, the Department of Corrections conducted risk assessments through a prison committee comprising the warden, provincial probation representatives, provincial police, district officials, and health representatives, who recommended post-release monitoring measures (JSOC) under the 2022 Act on Measures to Prevent Recidivism in Sexual and Violent Crimes. The committee submitted this recommendation to the provincial prosecutor, who petitioned the court for a post-release monitoring order under Section 24 of the law. On January 13, 2026, Rayong Provincial Court approved a 2-year monitoring order, which included restrictions on risky activities, reporting to probation officers every three months, and participation in rehabilitation programs as directed.
Thangchai Srinon was convicted of methamphetamine use and was normally released from Pattaya Special Prison on September 3, 2025, and was not subject to the JSOC law.
The Department of Corrections affirmed that it did not abandon or neglect its responsibility for preventing recidivism but acted fully within its legal authority, from imprisonment through release, including inmate classification, risk assessment, court recommendations for post-release monitoring, and information sharing with relevant agencies to enable proper supervision and behavioral control of released offenders according to court conditions, and remains ready to coordinate behavioral intelligence with relevant agencies to support prosecutions and close legal gaps to safeguard public life and property to the fullest extent.
