BANGKOK — One night before parliament was set to vote for Thailand’s 32nd prime minister—almost certainly Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, backed by the opposition People’s Party—former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra made headlines with a dramatic departure from the country.
Rather than lobbying for votes to flip the outcome back to Pheu Thai’s candidate and push for parliamentary dissolution, Thaksin quietly left Thailand without prior announcement. The departure became major news on the evening of September 4 when immigration police at Don Mueang Airport stopped him for document verification before allowing his exit.
Many believe he fled to establish himself abroad before a crucial court ruling regarding his “14th Floor Case” on September 9.
Travel Ban Recently Lifted
Immigration Division 2 commander Police Major General Choengron Rimphadi confirmed that at 4:50 p.m. on September 4, Don Mueang immigration received notification from MJets about a passenger departing on a private jet to Singapore. Thaksin’s name appeared on flight T7GTS.
“System checks showed no court orders prohibiting foreign travel, nor any outstanding criminal warrants,” the commander stated. A previous travel ban related to charges of joint defamation against the monarchy and inputting false information into computer systems had been revoked by Criminal Court letter dated August 22. Immigration officials cleared his departure at 7:17 p.m.
Medical Cover Story Disputed
Sources close to Thaksin claimed he traveled to Singapore for a scheduled two-day medical examination, dismissing flight rumors. However, public flight tracking showed his aircraft over the Indian Ocean east of Chennai, heading toward Dubai—where he maintained a mansion during his long exile—rather than Singapore.
The data later confirmed Dubai as the destination, with arrival scheduled for 11:25 p.m. local time.
Timing Raises Flight Suspicions
Sources close to Thaksin and his lawyers insist he will return for the September 9 Supreme Court ruling on the “14th Floor Case”—charges that he faked illness to serve his sentence on the 14th floor of Police Hospital rather than in prison. The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders scheduled both Thaksin and the Bangkok Special Prison commander to hear the verdict that day.
Political Calculations
His departure before the court ruling and government transition fuels speculation he’s fleeing—either temporarily or long-term. Given his 17-year exile from what he called political persecution, and his daughter Paetongtarn’s recent Constitutional Court dismissal over leaked Cambodia conversations, Thaksin may be preparing for another extended absence from Thai politics.
Thaksin Explains Dubai Detour
Former PM Thaksin posted on X at 3 a.m. Friday explaining his Dubai flight. He said immigration delays of nearly two hours caused him to miss Singapore’s Seletar Airport closing time (10 p.m.), forcing a route change to Dubai where he has regular medical specialists. His jet circled the Andaman Sea while awaiting Dubai clearance. Thaksin plans to return by September 8th for his September 9th court appearance.
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