Swiss national Andre Xavier Justo, who is serving time in a Thai jail over a blackmail attempt linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), will have his sentence reduced under a royal amnesty.

The amnesty, which was announced on Monday for certain categories of prisoners, was given to mark the 70th year of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's ascension to the throne, as well Queen Sirikit's 84th birthday, which falls on Friday.

Justo, a 49-year-old former information technology executive, was found guilty in August last year of attempting to blackmail his former employer PetroSaudi International, which was involved in a now-aborted deal with 1MDB, Malaysia's state investment firm. He was sentenced to three years' jail.

According to his lawyer Worasit Piriyawiboon, he will have just about one year left of his sentence to serve after the amnesty.

This will mean he will be entitled to parole, which he can serve anywhere in Thailand, Mr Worasit told The Straits Times.

Tan Hui Yee