German embassy denies giving Thaksin passport

By: Bangkok Post and Agencies
http://www.bangkokpost.com

Published: 22/05/2009

The German embassy on Friday denied local reports that former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is said to have six foreign passports, has been issued a German passport.

"Mr Thaksin Shinawatra does not hold a German passport," German embassy spokesman Theodor Proffe said.

Some local newspapers published stories on Friday quoting Puea Thai MP chief Chalerm Yubamrung as saying that Thaksin is passports issued by six countries, including Germany and Cambodia.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Thaksin did not have a Cambodian passport..

Mr Suthep said he had spoken to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who had assured him that Phnom Penh had not given Thaksin a passport.

Nicaragua issued Thaksin a diplomatic passport earlirthis year when he was appointed to promote the trade and investment there. He has also been issued with a passport by the government of Montenegro, in the Balkans, according to local media there and plans to buy an Adriatic island off the coast.

The former prime minister is living in exile after jumping bail and fleeing the country shortly before being sentenced to two years in jail on a charge of abuse of power while in office over his former wife's purchase of state land in the Ratchadaphisek area of Bangkok.