KUALA LUMPUR - Police here have denied that former Thai prime minister-turned-fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra was spotted in Malaysia recently and had escaped before the authorities could nab him.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan denied that Thai authorities had informed the police here about the presence of Thaksin in the country.

"I did not get a report and was never informed that Thaksin was in the country or escaped from police here."

Bernama reported yesterday that the Thai Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Sennian had claimed that Thaksin was spotted in Malaysia, but escaped before he was arrested by authorities there.

Thaworn said in the southern province of Pattani that Thai Embassy officials had informed Malaysian authorities that the former premier was staying at the Shangri-La Hotel.

"Thai officials informed the Malaysian authorities about Thaksin's presence there. Somehow, Thaksin managed to get wind of the impending arrest and managed to escape."

However, he did not provide any information on when the alleged incident took place. According to Thaworn, Thaksin later left for Fiji.

The policeman-turned telecommunications billionaire ruled Thailand from 2001 to 2005 before he was ousted in a military coup on Sept 19, 2006 while he was attending the United Nations General Assembly.

He returned home briefly last year after his allies won the December 2007 general election, but remained in exile to escape the two-year jail term imposed on him for abuse of power.

Two prime ministers aligned to him were forced out of office and their party lost power to a coalition led by Democrat candidate Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Thaksin has been shuttling between his homes in London, Dubai, Hong Kong and recently, Germany, using various passports of other countries after his passport was cancelled by the Thai government.

Despite his absence, he remains popular with the north and northeast population, which was evident during two by-elections when his allies in the Phue Thi Party won.

--NST