The Foreign Ministry cannot revoke former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's passport unless law enforcement agencies request it, its deputy spokeswoman says.
Foreign Ministry deputy spokeswoman Makawadee Sumitmor said Thursday the ministry has no information about Ms Yingluck's whereabouts and had received no request from agencies regarding the revocation of her passport.
The ministry will proceed with the cancellation of the passport only when law enforcement agencies submit a request, she said, citing ministerial regulations.
Agencies involved are still investigating the case and trying to locate Ms Yingluck, Ms Makawadee said.
The Supreme Court has rescheduled a ruling on the Yingluck government's rice pledging scheme for Sept 27, the spokeswoman said, while stressing the ministry is required to follow steps stipulated by regulations.
The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions issued an arrest warrant for the ex-premier after she failed to show up to hear the verdict in her case on Aug 25. It also confiscated her 30-million-baht surety.
Ms Yingluck, who is on trial for ignoring alleged irregularities in the rice-pledging scheme during her tenure, is widely speculated to have fled the country.
Also Thursday, Army chief Chalermchai Sitthisad said he had instructed the Burapha Task Force overseeing the Thai-Cambodian border to examine footage from all closed-circuit cameras along the border and seek additional information regarding Ms Yingluck's escape.
No conclusions have been drawn so far regarding the route Ms Yingluck might have used to flee across the border in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district, said Gen Chalermchai who is also secretary-general of the National Council for Peace and Order.
He added Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and deputy police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul had given consistent information that Ms Yingluck left her home in Bung Kum district on Aug 23.
She is believed to have switched vehicles in Min Buri district before a second car drove her to Sa Kaeo on the Cambodian border.
