The Thai former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinatra fled the country on Thursday, roughly a week before the Constitutional Court of Thailand decides whether he should go back into prison. The Thai police report this, according to Reuters news agency. The plane rose on Thursday around the beginning of the evening local time from the capital Bangkok and flew according to the plane tracker Flight Radar Then in a westerly direction.
Thaksin had just returned to Thailand two years ago, after having lived in exile in Dubai for about 15 years. He fled to that country in 2008, two years after he was dropped off by the army as prime minister. Through that flight, he for a long time escaped a case for alleged fraud during his premiership (2001-2006). After his return, he was convicted in that case: only up to eight years in prison, later that punishment was reduced by the Thai king to one year.
But already during his first night in jail, Thaksin said he got pain in his chest and was transferred to a police hospital. There he then stayed in the VIP department for half a year, until he was released under certain conditions. Next week, the court of the Asian country or that time in the hospital has a prison sentence or not: Thaksin possibly fell his illness to avoid the cell. In that case he has to go back to prison.
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From Dubai, Thaksin continued to lead his political party and dynasty. His sister was also dropped off by the army in 2014. And earlier this summer the Constitutional Court suspended his daughter as Prime Minister. These deposits are part of a long power struggle between democratic forces and the royal army. Part of that battle was also a lawsuit against Thaksin because of alleged majesty violation, a offense with three to fifteen years in prison in Thailand. But earlier this summer he was acquitted of this.