Thaksin's Italy detention just a 'rumour'
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Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday that he was not aware of Thaksin Shinawatra being detained in Italy as reported by the Democrat Party, adding that the opposition party was only spreading rumours to discredit the former prime minis
Democrat MP Sirichoke Sopha said earlier that Italian immigration officers had briefly detained Thaksin upon arrival on Wednesday. The Democrat also said that a friend of his who works for the Interpol had told him that Thaksin used his new Thai passport, instead of his Montenegro one, to enter Italy. Thaksin was supposedly detained because immigration officials saw his Thai passport and wondered about his legal status in Thailand, Sirichoke said. However, officials let him go once Thai authorities called on their Italian counterparts to cooperate, Sirichoke said.
“The government might be violating our criminal laws by providing false information about Thaksin’s status,” he said.
Thaksin is not a free man but a convicted fugitive who is on the run to escape criminal charges and conviction, Sirichoke said.
However, Surapong said Sirichoke’s information was questionable because Thaksin’s name had never been on the Interpol list.
Meanwhile, Thaksin’s legal adviser Noppadon Pattama said the former PM was enjoying his vacation in Italy and had never been detained by immigration officials as claimed by the Democrats.
In addition, he said, all foreign governments know that the current Thai administration has strong connections with Thaksin, so they usually welcome and facilitate his visit.
