A Thai court on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, has sentenced former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in absentia to five years in prison for alleged negligence in a money-losing rice subsidy program. (Sakchai Lalit, File/Associated Press)BANGKOK — Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra appears to be staying in the Mideast commercial hub of Dubai after fleeing a criminal conviction, Thailand’s prime minister said Thursday, in the first official word on her whereabouts since she missed a court date last month. It had been generally assumed that Yingluck was in Dubai or London, since her brother, ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, maintains residences in both locations. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said Thursday that the Foreign Ministry received assurances from the United Arab Emirates that Yingluck would not interfere with Thai politics from abroad. Yingluck ‘s brother Thaksin, a telecommunications tycoon, was prime minister in 2001-2006.

Source: Washington Post September 28, 2017 04:13 UTC