The Criminal Court has dismissed as unnecessary Thaksin’s request to travel to Dubai next week, for medical consultations, stating that Thai doctors are qualified to take care for him.
In his request, submitted on July 27, Thaksin, who was freed on bail on June 17 pending a trial on a lèse majesté charge, mentioned that he also planned to meet some “important figures” during his stay in Dubai, tentatively between August 1 and 16.
Thaksin claimed that the doctors had previously treated him for respiratory problems, coronary artery disease, right rotator cuff tears, chronic pneumonitis and lumbar disc herniation during his self-imposed exile in the city.
He planned to meet these doctors on August 2 and 8, if the court had allowed him to travel abroad.
In his request, Thaksin mentioned that he also plans to meet with what he described as “important persons” on personal matters.
He claimed that he would return to Thailand in time to attend a court appointment to review evidence related to the trial, which is set for August 19.
The defendant also provided medical documents to support his request, but the court viewed his claimed illnesses as common, which can be treated by doctors in Thailand.
Moreover, the defendant’s desire to meet those ‘important persons’ was deemed a personal matter, for which he had failed to provide clear evidence to support such a request, according to the court.
The court further noted that the proposed return date was very close to the scheduled court appointment, all leading to the rejection of the defendant’s request.
