Ex-Thai PM Thaksin in S'pore for 'health check-up' ahead of court ruling

[Update: Around 4:20pm Singapore time on Sep. 8, Khaosod English shared a photo of Thaksin after disembarking his plane Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport.]

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in Singapore for a supposed health check-up on Sep. 8, a day before a court ruling that could send him to prison, Thai Enquirer reported.

The 76-year-old originally departed for Singapore on Sep. 4, but his private jet changed course to Dubai after delays with Thai immigration clearance made it too late for him to land at Seletar Airport before closing time.

According to Thai Enquirer, Thaksin told the Thai publication that he would return to Bangkok later that same day, in the evening of Sep. 8.

Khaosod English reported that he will arrive in Thailand at 5pm on Sep. 8, based on information from a source close to Thaksin.

Based on the flight number reported by Khaosod English, Flightradar24 shows that Thaksin's jet is expected to land at Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport at around 2:52pm Thailand time.

Court ruling

Thaksin is scheduled to attend the Thai Supreme Court's verdict reading on his hospital detention case on Sep. 9.

His abrupt trip on Sep. 4 thus prompted speculation that he was attempting to flee the country and establish himself overseas, according to Khaosod English.

He had lived in Dubai, among other places, during his 15-year self-imposed exile to avoid a possible prison sentence for abuse of power and corruption when he was prime minister, CNN reported.

The flight to Dubai also happened shortly before the Thai parliament elected its new prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, to succeed Thaksin's daughter, the ousted Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

On Sep. 5, Thaksin shared about his arrival in Dubai on X, and added that he intended to return to Thailand no later than Sep. 8 to make it to the court ruling.

After he ended his exile and went back to Thailand in 2023, he had been sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption.

However, after only a few hours in prison, he was transferred to a hospital suite due to alleged critical illnesses, according to Thai Enquirer.

The Sep. 9 court ruling concerns this six-month hospital detention, which raised questions about special treatment.

The court will decide whether Thaksin’s time in the hospital can count as time served for his sentence.

If the verdict goes against him, Thaksin could be sent to serve out that time in prison, CNN reported.

Thaksin has received a royal pardon more than once, when the Thai king reduced his sentence to one year in 2023, then granted his release on parole in 2024.

Top images from Thaksin's Facebook and Thailandcourt.com