Bangkok, "Thaksin" missed out on leaving the country after the Criminal Court dismissed the petition, not allowing him to go for treatment in Dubai, stating that there are already doctors in the country to treat him regularly. As for visiting important people, it is a personal matter, there is no necessity, and it is also close to the date of the evidence inspection on August 19. On July 31, 2024, reporters reported that on July 27, at the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road, Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, former Prime Minister and defendant in the lese majeste case under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, filed a request to travel outside the Kingdom to the United Arab Emirates. The court ordered the hearing of Mr. Thaksin's petition on July 30 and issued an order on the same day. The court considered that the defendant was granted temporary release during the trial and was prohibited from leaving the country unless permitted by the court. The defendant intended to travel outside the country to reside in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, between August 1-16, 2024, to see a doctor who had previously treated the defendant for chronic pneumonia, respiratory and cardiovascular problems, a torn right shoulder ligament, and a slipped disc at a hospital in the United Arab Emirates on August 2 and 8, 2024. During the time the defendant was staying in the United Arab Emirates, the defendant had appointments with several important people regarding his personal matters. The defendant will return to the country before the date of the examination of evidence, which the court has scheduled for August 19, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. It is considered that even though the defendant claimed to be a witness to confirm the necessity to travel outside the Kingdom, supported by documentary evidence from a doctor and made appointments to meet many important persons, the period of the defendant's stay in the United Arab Emirates was before the appointment for the examination of evidence, the defendant's illness is a disease that occurs in the general pu blic and doctors in Thailand regularly examine and treat. The defendant's travel to meet important persons was a personal matter of the defendant. There is no clear evidence to confirm such necessity, and the period of travel is close to the date of the examination of evidence. At this stage, it is not appropriate to allow the defendant to travel outside the Kingdom. The petition is dismissed. Source: Thai News Agency