Thaksin in Dubai, but promises to return for Supreme Court verdict on September 9th

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra claimed in his “X” post that he ordered the pilot of his private jet to change destination from Singapore to Dubai, because the private airport in Singapore was closed and he could use the services of his long-time Pulmonologist and Orthopedist instead and visit some old friends whom he has not seen for more than two years.

He did, however, promise to fly back to Thailand not later than August 8th to hear the court’s verdict on the following day.

The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Office is scheduled to deliver a ruling in the controversial “Police General Hospital’s 14th Floor”, case in which he is accused of evading time in prison by claiming to be very sick, which required him to be admitted to the PGH for six months, without spending a day behind bars prior to release on parole.

The former prime minister and some unspecified family members were seen at the private jet terminal of Don Mueang airport yesterday evening boarding a Bombardier Global 7500 private jet, destined for Singapore purportedly for a medical checkup.

In his “X” post, published after his jet landed in Dubai, Thaksin claimed that he was delayed by immigration officials at Don Mueang airport for almost two hours, meaning his plane was unable to land at the Seletar private airport in Singapore, because it normally opens until about 10pm.

When the plane could not land there, the pilot sought landing permission at Dubai airport and when permission was granted, the pilot changed the flight plan, he said.

According to Flightradar 24, Thaksin’s private jet, Flight T7GTS, is shown to divert from its route crossing the Malay peninsula and out over the Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean.

At 9.35pm, the aircraft entered a holding pattern over the Andaman Sea before heading towards the Middle East. At 10.10pm, the plane remained on a clear heading towards the Middle East.

By 11.20pm, the aircraft was in Indian airspace, heading towards Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Thaksin’s plane landed at Dubai airport at 11.40pm local time (2.40am Thai time). The flight from Don Mueang to Dubai took seven hours and 22 minutes.