Thai Prime Minister reveals measures to deal with Yingluck's escape

The Thai government will revoke all passports of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and launch an investigation into how she was able to flee the country despite tight security, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on August 28.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Photo: Reuters

Thai Prime Minister Prayut today gave an interview to the press about the government's next steps after former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra fled abroad to avoid impeachment.

He said authorities would continue to investigate how Yingluck was able to flee the country. He also dismissed speculation that his military government had given the green light for the escape. “Who could have helped her escape? Why would you think that?” Prayut appeared angry as reporters repeatedly questioned whether the government had helped Yingluck.

“I did not expect this to happen. That morning (August 25), I still thought she would appear in court. I have great respect for her,” Prime Minister Prayut said.

He said he had instructed authorities to find the security loophole that allowed Ms. Yingluck to escape. However, he did not want to blame the country's security forces and said the media should limit criticism of them. The head of the Thai government also admitted that the media's excessive attention to the incident also affected the progress of resolving the problem.

Prime Minister Prayut said the Thai government would seek to contact the country where Ms Yingluck is suspected of having fled to. He also confirmed that the government would revoke Ms Yingluck's passports.

Ms. Yingluck, 50 years old, Thailand's first female prime minister, was ousted after a military coup in 2014. She was accused of negligence in the rice subsidy policy that caused an estimated loss of 8 billion USD to the government.

If found guilty, she faces up to 10 years in prison and a lifetime ban from politics under a new military-drafted constitution. Yingluck has denied the charges.

Before the impeachment trial on August 25, Ms. Yingluck was said to have left Thailand, passed through Cambodia, arrived in Singapore, and then caught a flight to Dubai. This information has not been verified.

According to Dan Tri