Royalty slamming Aussie author out of Thai jail...

Australian Harry Nicolaides is out of prison and on his way home to Melbourne after being pardoned by Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the author's brother said Saturday, according to dpa.

Nicolaides was released from a Bangkok prison on Friday, Forde Nicolaides told Australia's AAP news agency.

He was arrested in August and jailed last month on a conviction for insulting the royal family.

The minimum sentence under Thailand's harsh lese majeste law, which makes it a criminal offence to insult or belittle the royal family, is three years imprisonment. The maximum sentence is 15 years.

"I'm absolutely ecstatic," Forde said. "This is a huge relief for the family after a terrible time, one which obviously has consumed us for the last six months."

Nicolaides, 41, pleaded guilty to lese majeste in 12 lines he wrote in his 2005 novel, Verisimilitude, which referred to an unspecified crown prince's love life.

Only seven copies of the book were sold. 

Source

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