Whereabout of ex-female Thai PM remains unknown

BANGKOK, September 12 (TNA) - The whereabout of ex-female Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who has sneaked out of the country since late last month, has remained unknown. Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai told journalists on Tuesday that there have been no clear reports on the whereabout of the ex-Thai premier so far. "All media reports on the whereabout of ex-premier Yingluck have been just rumors so far, as the Thai government has not been officially notified by any country where the former Thai prime minister has now stayed", the foreign minister clarified. "Besides, there have been no official reports that ex-premier Yingluck has taken refuge in any country", said the Thai foreign minister. According to the foreign minister, updates concerning the ex-Thai premier, including her whereabout, will be officially reported after any grounded evidence is confirmed to prevent public confusion. Former Thai prime minister Yingluck, a younger sister of exiled ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra did not appear at the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on August 25 to hear the court's ruling on a case filed by the public prosecutor on her alleged ignorance for the mismanagement of the rice mortgage scheme in her previous administration, causing a huge damage to the state. If found guilty, Yingluck could face a jail term of 10 years and might be ordered to pay back to the state, as a compensation, up to 35 billion baht, or 20 per cent of the alleged overall damage. There have been unconfirmed reports that she has fled out of the country through a natural pass in Sa Kaeo Province in the Thai East since August 23. (TNA)