Exiled Thai Prime Minister seeks new home

Bangkok: Thailand's former prime minister once used tax havens to shelter the fortune he made in telecommunications. Now, as a fugitive facing jail time, he is seeking a haven for himself.

Last month, a Thai court found Thaksin Shinawatra guilty of conflict of interest in a land deal and handed down a two-year sentence. Thaksin had already fled to London, where he is reported to own a multimillion dollar apartment as well as a five-bedroom mansion in the suburbs.

But then Britain cancelled his visa while he was out of the country.

As of yesterday, he was in Hong Kong, but a close associate said he would be leaving soon. It is anybody's guess as to where he is headed next.

Thai media are full of speculation. Bermuda? The Central African Republic?

Thaksin was prime minister from 2001 to 2006, when he was toppled in a military coup. He still wields influence with the current Thai government, and protesters have occupied the main government office in Bangkok for the past three months seeking to force his allies from power as well.

Thaksin's conviction stems from his time as prime minister, when his wife bought land from a state agency, violating a ban on officials and spouses making contracts with the government. They are still to face several more serious charges.

The former leader is not exactly trapped. First of all, he is believed to have hundreds of millions of dollars readily at his disposal.

Secondly, he has a Thai diplomatic passport, a courtesy given to former prime ministers in Thailand, allowing him visa-free entry to 40 countries.

But as pressure mounts on the government to withdraw that privilege, Thaksin is looking increasingly like a man without a country.