National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda says police are expediting efforts to bring fugitive former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra back to face justice following the appearance of what is believed to be a fresh photo of Yingluck said to have been taken in London during the New Year period.
Pol Gen Chakthip said yesterday that he has instructed deputy national police chief Pol Gen Srivara Ransibrahmanakul to look into the matter and follow legal procedures to locate and arrest the fugitive.
Police have established that the picture is authentic and will try their best to bring Yingluck back to face justice in the country, Pol Gen Chakthip said, adding that Pol Gen Srivara has already asked Interpol for help in finding her.
Pol Gen Chakthip yesterday made his fresh comments about police attempts to arrest Yingluck after his deputy Pol Gen Srivara on Friday came out to confirm that the second photo of Yingluck, in the company of an unidentified woman, was genuine.
The picture spread online early last week. It followed an earlier photo of a woman resembling Yingluck which surfaced late last month and was reported to have been taken on Dec 26 at Westfield Shopping Centre in West London.
Obtained by Khao Sod newspaper, the latest picture supposedly shows the ex-premier having her photo taken with a Thai woman, in a location also believed to be London, during the New Year period.
Pol Srivara earlier said the photo was likely to be authentic, citing forensic officers' initial probe results. The UK authorities, he said, would be contacted to ask about the appearance of the former premier there.
He said that although Yingluck's Thai passports have been revoked it is not known what passports from other countries she may hold.
Referring to the woman in the photo with Yingluck, Pol Gen Srivara said officers were attempting to ascertain her identity.
Busadee Santipitaks, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), yesterday confirmed all passports of Yingluck had been revoked. The MFA has no ideas of which country has granted passport to Yingluck.
Yingluck fled after failing to show up for a negligence ruling over her government's rice-pledging scheme on Sept 27 last year.
Since then speculation has mounted that she could be residing with her fellow fugitive and brother Thaksin in Dubai or applying for asylum in the UK.
Thanakit Worathanatchakul, a prosecutor attached to the Office of the Attorney-General, explained the criteria for those seeking asylum in the UK. Asylum-seekers must give reasons why they cannot return to their own countries such as due to the danger of political, religious or racial persecution, threats of harassment or unfair legal prosecution, Mr Thanakit said.
Asylum-seekers can file for asylum straight away upon arrival in the UK and they have to be interviewed by UK authorities on why they seek asylum.
They must also produce documents providing details of residences they intend to stay in the UK, Mr Thanakit said.
In the event their applications are rejected by UK authorities, they can appeal their case.
If they win their appeal, they will be permitted to stay in the UK for five years.
After that period they can apply for residency for a certain amount of time if they still fear the threats against them back home remain, he said.
But if they are not granted asylum because they fail to meet the criteria, they may be allowed to stay in the UK for humanitarian reasons for five years, after which they can also file for residency, Mr Thanakit said.
