"Thailand's influential former prime miniser Thaksin Shinawatra flew out of the country on Thursday, police said, a day before a parliamentary vote for the next prime minister and ahead of a court ruling that could see him jailed. Many in Thailand spent Thursday evening glued to flight tracking websites, avidly following the path of Thaksin's private jet. News that he was at Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport broke early on Thursday evening, with local media reporting he had been stopped by immigration."
"His plane took off after authorities confirmed that he did not have any court order prohibiting him from leaving the country, police said in a statement. As he left Thailand, social media was flooded with speculation. Many wondered if Thaksin might instead head to Dubai, where he previously lived in self-imposed exile to avoid legal charges for abuse of power and conflicts of interest."
Thaksin Shinawatra left Thailand by private jet the day before a parliamentary vote for the next prime minister and ahead of a court ruling that could send him to jail. Many people in Thailand tracked his flight online, following its path from Bangkok through the Gulf of Thailand and across Malaysia. He was reported at Don Mueang Airport and said to have planned a two-day medical visit to Singapore, but his aircraft looped twice and then changed course toward India. Authorities said he departed after confirming no court order prevented him leaving. Social media and media outlets speculated about destinations including Dubai. He had spent over 15 years in exile and returned to Thailand in 2023 after an uneasy deal with his old enemies.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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