![Thai Siwarak Chothipong (centre), 31, an employee at the Cambodia Air Traffic Service, is escorted by Cambodian police at the Phnom Penh municipal court on December 8, 2009. He's been granted a royal pardon. [AFP]](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200912/r483325_2472388.jpg "Thai Siwarak Chothipong (centre), 31, an employee at the Cambodia Air Traffic Service, is escorted by Cambodian police at the Phnom Penh municipal court on December 8, 2009. He's been granted a royal pardon. [AFP]")
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Thai Siwarak Chothipong (centre), 31, an employee at the Cambodia Air Traffic Service, is escorted by Cambodian police at the Phnom Penh municipal court on December 8, 2009. He's been granted a royal pardon. [AFP]
Karen Percy, Robert Carmichael
Radio Australia NewsA Thai man convicted this week for spying in Cambodia, has been granted a royal pardon.
Siwarak Chotipong pleaded not guilty to handing over secret information about the travel plans of former Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who made a controversial visit to Cambodia last month.
But on Tuesday he was sentenced to seven years jail.
He was found guilty of violating breaching national security and public safety laws in Cambodia.
The 31 year old is expected to return to Thailand on Monday after Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni signed a royal pardon.
Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said the release was a humanitarian gesture, and came after a number of requests to free Sivarak, including one from Thaksin himself and members of Thaksin's opposition party.
Khieu Kanharith said Sivarak would be released Monday into the care of his mother after a scheduled meeting between her and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Mr Siwarak's case has added to tensions between the two countries because it centres on Mr Thaksin who is wanted in Thailand for evading a corruption conviction last year.
Cambodia has hired Mr Thaksin as an economic advisor and refused a Thai extradition request.
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