Thaksin trip heightens uncertainty as PM vote and court ruling loom

Thaksin Shinawatra left Bangkok on Thursday evening aboard a private jet and returned to the city on Monday, according to police statements, flight tracking data and media reports, movements that have intensified uncertainty for the Pheu Thai party as parliament prepares to name a new prime minister and a Supreme Court prepares to rule on a case that could send the former leader to prison. The 76 year old billionaire flew from Don Mueang International Airport shortly after 7 p.m. on Thursday and was later seen disembarking at the airport on Monday afternoon, witnesses and livestream video showed.

Police said there was no court order preventing Thaksin from leaving the country. Flight trackers showed the aircraft registered T7GTS initially headed toward Singapore, then passed over Malaysia and made several loops above the Andaman Sea before turning west. Thaksin wrote on social media that he had intended to go to Singapore for a medical checkup but was delayed by Thai immigration and that his pilot was told it would be too late to land at Seletar Airport, which closes at 10 p.m. He said the jet instead flew to Dubai, where he has long-standing doctors. He added he planned to...