(Updated 12:03 p.m.) BANGKOK, Thailand - Deposed Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife failed to appear before a high court Monday amid reports they are seeking political asylum in Britain.
Thai media Monday quoted several sources saying that Thaksin and his family were already in London and would issue a statement there.
A close friend of the Thaksin family, Pracha Prasobdi, said the former Thai leader would explain why he is seeking asylum. However, others close to Thaksin said it was still unclear what his plans were.
Thaksin and his wife were to appear Monday morning before the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions in a case involving an allegedly unlawful purchase of real estate.
"So far the defendants have not shown up," said court secretary Rakiat Patanaphong, declining to say anything more. They have until 4:30 p.m. (0930 GMT) to report, before the court demands an explanation from their lawyer and could eventually issue an arrest warrant.
Thaksin and his wife face several court cases related to alleged abuse of power and corruption during his five years in power. He was deposed in a military coup in 2006.
Two weeks ago, Thaksin's wife Pojaman was sentenced to three years in jail after being found guilty of tax evasion. She was freed on bail after appealing the verdict.
The couple left Thailand last week after the court gave them permission to attend the Olympic Games in Beijing but ordered them to report Monday.
Thaksin spent much of his time in Britain after being toppled and before returning to Thailand earlier this year to face court actions against him. He owns several properties in England as well as the Manchester City football club.
The couple have been charged with abuse of authority and corruption in Pojaman's 2003 purchase of a valuable plot of land in Bangkok from a state agency. The court earlier said it would deliver a verdict Sept. 16.
Thaksin is embroiled in three other court cases as well as a slew of investigations that may lead to trials. He has maintained his innocence in all of them.
Thaksin was widely regarded as an authoritarian figure who eroded Thailand's still-fragile democratic institutions. Mass street protests led to his downfall.
But he was popular with the country's rural masses and urban poor with his populist policies. - AP