Melbourne-based refugee Hakeem al-Araibi is finally on his way home to Australia after his release from a Thai prison late last night.

Key points: It is still unclear exactly when or why the Thai Government decided to free him

It is still unclear exactly when or why the Thai Government decided to free him Officials in Bahrain said the 'guilty verdict' still remains in place

Officials in Bahrain said the 'guilty verdict' still remains in place Mr al-Araibi is expected to be greeted by a large crowd on his return

Mr al-Araibi boarded a Thai Airways flight just after midnight local time and is expected to arrive in Melbourne this afternoon.

He was among the last to board with the assistance of immigration police who patrolled the departure gate until he was on board the flight.

He is expected to land in Melbourne just after 1:00pm to a large crowd waiting to welcome him home, including the Pascoe Vale Football Club, and former Socceroos captain Craig Foster.

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Thai prosecutors on Monday submitted a court request to withdraw the case to extradite Mr al-Araibi to Bahrain, where he faces a 10-year prison sentence for an arson attack that damaged a police station. He has denied those charges and said the case was politically motivated.

After the court request, he was immediately taken from the jail to the airport.

It was still unclear exactly when or why the Thai Government decided to free him, however, it was understood Bahrain agreed to drop extradition proceedings against him after talks between Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and the Thai Foreign Minister over the weekend.

Officials in Bahrain said the country, "reaffirms its right to pursue all necessary legal actions against" Mr al-Araibi.

"[The] guilty verdict against Mr al-Araibi remains in place and Mr al-Araibi holds the right to appeal this court verdict" in Bahrain's Court of Appeals, Bahrain's Foreign Ministry said in a statement after his release.

Case drew worldwide attention

Sorry, this video has expired Hakeem al-Araibi will touch down in Melbourne this afternoon

Thailand had come under great pressure from the Australian Government, sporting bodies and human rights groups to send Mr al-Araibi back to Australia, where he has refugee status and plays semi-professional football.

The 25-year-old is a former Bahraini national team player, but said he fled Bahrain to Melbourne due to political repression and fears of torture if he returned.

He said he believed he was targeted for arrest because of his Shiite faith and because his brother was politically active in Bahrain.

He added that he was blindfolded and had his legs beaten while he was previously held in Bahrain.

Hakeem al-Araibi was detained when he landed in Bangkok for his honeymoon in November. ( AP Photo: Sakchai Lalit )

Bahrain has a Shiite majority but is ruled by a Sunni monarchy.

He was detained at the request of Bahrain, relayed through Interpol, upon his arrival in Bangkok in November while on a honeymoon with his wife.

His supporters said he should be freed and that he was protected under his status as a refugee with Australian residency.

Former Australia national team captain Craig Foster, who has been leading the campaign for Mr al-Araibi's release, praised all those who worked on its behalf.

Sorry, this video has expired Craig Foster was the loudest voice and most public face of the #SaveHakeem campaign. (Photo: AP)

"Many wonderful people stepped forward to help Hakeem," he wrote on Monday in comments on Twitter.

"They all deserve to be in front of camera now, not only me. I can't list them, but will thank each of them in time.

"My thoughts are with Hakeem's wife. Her nightmare will shortly be at an end. Our prayers answered."

Football Federation Australia chairman Chris Nikou thanked the Australian, Thai and Bahraini governments, as well as Foster, for helping Mr al-Araibi.

"We have seen our community unite in an extraordinary way over the past few months to campaign for Hakeem's release," Mr Nikou said.

He said the Australian football community would provide ongoing support for Mr al-Araibi after his return.

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Australian of the Year and hero of the Thai cave rescue Craig Challen joined in the celebrations and said he was happy to use his profile to shine a spotlight on the case.

"I think we were all getting a little bit pessimistic about the prospects, and at very best it was going to be months and months before anything happened, so this has caught us all by surprise, but very pleased to hear it," he said.

Activists praised Monday's developments.

"This is a huge victory for the human rights movement in Bahrain, Thailand and Australia — and even the whole world," said Sayed Alwadaei, the director of advocacy at the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy.

"Hakeem's ordeal ended after 70 days when there was a clear public stance and solidarity movement."

ABC/Reuters