Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra left Thailand on Thursday, flying out just days before a court ruling that could see him imprisoned. His departure also came on the eve of a parliamentary vote to choose a new prime minister, following the removal of his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, from the post.
Thailand's immigration officials confirmed that Thaksin, who had initially planned to travel to Singapore for a medical appointment, was allowed to leave as there was no court order barring his exit. However, his private jet ultimately changed course and flew to Dubai instead, after a delay at Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport forced him to miss the landing window at Singapore's Seletar Airport.
Thaksin's flight path was tracked by tens of thousands online, with the plane circling over the Gulf of Thailand and later over Malaysia before heading west. The former leader explained on social media that the delay by Thai immigration caused him to miss the Singapore airport's 10pm curfew, prompting him to divert to Dubai, where he has longstanding medical specialists.
Thaksin returned to Thailand in 2023 after more than 15 years in self-imposed exile, having struck a deal with the military royalist establishment. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, later commuted to one year, but spent less than 24 hours in custody due to health issues, instead residing in a hospital wing for six months before being released on parole. That arrangement is now under judicial scrutiny, with a ruling expected next week.
In a social media post early Friday, Thaksin stated he would return to Thailand no later than Monday and attend court in person on Tuesday to hear the judgment. Parliament is due to vote on a new prime minister later on Friday, with Anutin Charnvirakul, a royalist conservative, expected to prevail against Chaikasem Nitisiri of Thaksin's Pheu Thai party.
