A woman awaiting retrial after her conviction for keeping two Thai women as slaves was set aside has been released from jail.
Rungnapha Kanbut was found guilty of two counts each of intentionally possessing a slave, exercising powers of ownership over a slave and dealing with the proceeds of crime by a NSW District Court jury in May 2019.
She was sentenced to more than eight years in prison but would have been eligible for release in 2024.
However, the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal ordered a retrial in December, setting aside her prior conviction over directions given by the judge to the jury in her 2019 trial.
Kanbut was granted bail on Tuesday when she appeared via videolink in the NSW District Court.
The Crown did not oppose Kanbut's release, however the Thai national will need a new visa.
"The criminal justice visa process can only be commenced once (she) is released ... it's expected such a visa will be forthcoming," prosecutor Bethaney Debenham said.
Judge Michael McHugh said Kanbut had proven she could comply with bail conditions prior to her previous trial.
"The accused was on bail, and there were no breaches of bail, and she was only taken into custody following conviction," the judge said.
He granted Kanbut's release on condition she live with a relative at Parkes, report to police twice weekly and stay at least half a kilometre away from any international port of departure.
The matter will return to court in February ahead of a retrial at a later date.
