Thailand revokes passport of former Prime Minister Yingluck

Thailand's Foreign Ministry said revoking Yingluck Shinawatra's passport could help police quickly bring the former prime minister back to the country to face trial.

Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Photo: AFP.

"All of Ms. Yingluck's passports have been revoked," AFP quoted Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai as telling reporters in Bangkok on October 31.

In late September, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs received a request from the Royal Police Office to revoke the former prime minister's passport in order to bring her back to the country soon.

According to the Foreign Ministry spokesman, Thailand has revoked four passports in Ms. Yingluck's name, including two regular passports and two diplomatic passports. And the decision to revoke the passports will help limit Ms. Yingluck's travel.

The former prime minister is believed to have left Thailand on August 23. According to Western media, Ms. Yingluck is possibly in Dubai or London and intends to seek political asylum.

Thai authorities have contacted the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to coordinate in searching for the former prime minister's whereabouts, but so far have not been able to determine Ms. Yingluck's whereabouts.

"No country has responded or said they know where Yingluck is," said General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul, deputy commander of the Royal Thai Police.

"I don't know where Yingluck is now and have only heard that she is in the UK but I don't know exactly which city," Foreign Minister Pramudwinai said.

In late September, the Thai Supreme Court tried former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in absentia on charges of mismanaging a rice subsidy program for farmers, causing losses to the state budget. Ms. Yingluck is said to have fled just before this trial.

According to VNE