His lawyer, Winyat Chatmontree, said yesterday that Thaksin would not attend the hearing in the Supreme Court’s Criminal Case Division for Persons Holding Political Positions because he had not been summonsed to appear, reports the Bangkok Post.
Thakin had asked the court to postpone the deadline for document delivery for 30 days, and the court had rescheduled it for June 23, the lawyer said.
His legal team would, however, be present at the scheduled hearing tomorrow to present clarifications to the court.
The court decided in April to look into whether Thaksin had properly served his prison term while in the Police Hospital.
The decision was announced when the court dismissed a petition from former Democrat MP Charnchai Issarasenarak. He challenged whether Thaksin’s admission to Police General Hospital and stay there until he was paroled equated to serving his term in prison.
Thaksin returned to the country on Aug 22, 2023, after more than 15 years of self-exile abroad.
He was immediately sentenced to eight years in prison in three cases - later reduced to one year by royal clemency - for abuse of authority and conflict of interest while serving as prime minister prior to 2006.
He was taken to Bangkok Remand Prison immediately after his arrival back in Thailand, but was moved to Police General Hospital the same night, Aug 22, only 13 hours after he entered the prison.
He stayed in the hospital until he was paroled early in 2024 amid questions over whether he had received privileged treatment.
His rivals called for evidence of his serious illness, citing his much-improved health shortly after leaving Police General Hospital.
The Medical Council of Thailand did not find that Thaksin was critically ill during his stay at the police hospital and decided to discipline a few doctors involved. The Opposition questioned Thaksin’s illness during the recent censure debate.
Earlier, officials repeatedly referred to the confidentiality of patient data and the possible risk to Thaksin’s life if he were returned to prison.