Thailand’s influential former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra suddenly left the country on his private jet Thursday days before a court ruling that could see him imprisoned, raising speculation that he might not return to face the verdict.

His departure came a day before Thailand’s parliament was set to pick a new prime minister and install a new government Friday; the ruling Pheu Thai party, which Thaksin founded, was widely expected to lose power.

Thaksin, 76, spent 15 years in self-imposed exile after being ousted from office in a 2006 military coup. His daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who became Thailand’s youngest prime minister last year, was removed from office a week ago following an ethics probe.

Over the past 25 years, Thaksin has built one of the country’s most famous

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