Thai police have confirmed that former Prime Minister Thaksin has left Thailand

The Thai police issued a statement on Thursday evening (September 4th) saying that former Prime Minister Thaksin left Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok at 7:17 p.m. on the same day (8:17 p.m. Singapore time on the 4th) on a private jet with the registration number T7GTS.

Reuters reported that online flight tracking information showed that the plane initially flew towards Singapore, then flew over Malaysia, circled several times over the Andaman Sea and continued to fly westward.

Before Thaksin left Bangkok, the Thai authorities confirmed that the court had not issued an order prohibiting him from leaving the country. Thaksin's daughter, Petontan, was recently relieved of her position as prime minister by the Constitutional Court.

Thaksin's lawyer, Winyat Chatmontree, told Reuters earlier that he was unaware that Thaksin was leaving Thailand and said the court had not issued a ban on leaving the country to Thaksin.

The Pheu Thai Party, to which Pethongtan belongs, refused to comment on Thaksin's movements.

The Supreme Court of Thailand has set a ruling on a case involving Thaksin on September 9. Thaksin was ousted in 2006 due to a military coup and was exiled for 15 years. After the pro-military party formed a ruling coalition with the Pheu Thai Party, Thaksin ended his exile and returned to Thailand in August 2023.