Justo to board flight back home later tonight -- Official

An officer at the immigration detention centre where he was currently being held after he was released from Bangkok Remand Prison at noon today, confirmed that Justo's air ticket had been prepared.

"Yes, his air ticket has been bought and he is scheduled to leave Thailand later tonight," said the officer but declined to provide additional details of Justo's flight arrangement.

The officer who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the information he provided also said, the Swiss native was still being held at the immigration detention centre accompanied by officials from the Swiss embassy in Bangkok.

He said, the Swiss national will be sent to the airport three hours before boarding his flight.

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Earlier today, the former Petrosaudi IT executive was released from the Bangkok Remand Prison where he was currently serving a three-year jail term, according to his lawyer.

Worasit Piriyawiboon told Bernama that Justo had been brought to the Immigration Department's detention centre to sort out his travel documents prior to his flight back home.

Justo arrived at the department's compound about 11.50 am (local time) in a van accompanied by several heavily-armed commandos.

Approached by the waiting reporters, the calm and composed Swiss national said he hoped to be flying back to his home country tonight after serving more than a year from a total of three years' jail term.

"Very happy, I hope to be on the plane tonight and back home tomorrow," said the former IT executive of Petrosaudi International who arrived wearing civilian garb of white t-shirt and dark blue shorts.

Justo's three-year jail term was cut short after he was granted two separate Royal Pardons, firstly by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in August and recently by the newly-ascended King Maha Chakri Bodindradevarangkun.

The Royal Pardon he received from the late King Bhumibol enabled Justo to commute one-third of his jail term, while the one granted by King Maha Chakri entitled him for early release.

The Swiss national was found guilty by a Thai court in August last year after he admitted to attempting to blackmail his former employer.