A contingency plan is in place for the possible return of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Whenever Thaksin does return to face legal action, the Thai government has already prepared plans to handle the situation, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said today (Tuesday).
Authorities concerned, including courts and the Corrections Department are ready, Wissanu said. He did, however, ask Thaksin not to arrive on weekends or public holidays.
“During those days, the courts, which would assign a jail for Thaksin’s detention, would not be working, which would make things difficult as we would have to find detention venue for Thaksin instead,” he said.
Thaksin recently announced that he would return home on August 10th, ending his self-imposed exile. He later postponed his return, claiming that his doctors wanted him to have medical check-ups first. He has delayed his home coming many times.
Thaksin was ousted in a coup in 2006 and he has been living in self-imposed exile. During his absence, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Office sentenced him to a total of 12 years in prison in four cases.
