Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan said today he could not discount the possibility that former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra slipped out of the country two days ago via Cambodia, enroute to Singapore, as alleged by the media.

Prawit, who is also defence minister and minister responsible for internal affairs, nevertheless said that he had yet to receive any report regarding Yingluck.

"I don't know but I had followed the online media that said she has left the country. That could be true because there are many routes to escape (from Thailand)," he told reporters in Bangkok today with regard to the mounting speculation on the whereabouts of Yingluck.

The media alleged that the younger sister of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra (photo) fled to neighbouring Cambodia through the Thai border town of Kho Chang two days ago, before making her way to Singapore.

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has also instructed the authorities to closely monitor all "normal and abnormal" exits points in the country.

"I thought she was a brave person," Prayut said on the failure of Yingluck to appear in court today, adding that he had not received any report regarding Yingluck and her possible location.

Meanwhile, Deputy National Police Chief Gen Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul said the police had contacted their counterparts in Cambodia and Singapore on the allegation, but had yet to receive any confirmation about the matter from both countries.

"Yes, we have contacted them (Cambodia and Singapore), but no confirmation as yet," he said, adding that there are possibilities that Yingluck could have escaped through the natural border.

Srivara, who was met at the Supreme Court, said the police would take heed of the arrest warrant against Yingluck and "catch her”.

Yingluck, 50, the first female Thai prime minister, was to have attended the Supreme Court hearing today to hear its verdict on her involvement in the controversial rice-pledging scheme, but failed to show up, sparking intense speculation as to her whereabouts.

Thaksin, too, fled Thailand

Her brother, Thaksin, also fled Thailand to escape court action in 2008.

Lawyer Norrawit Larlaeng, who represented Yingluck, cited health problems as the reason behind her absence today when met by the media after the court adjourned.

The court did not accept the reason and issued an arrest warrant against the former prime minister, who faces the prospect of up to 10 years in jail if found guilty.

Following Yingluck's absence today, the court agreed to postpone the verdict to 9am on Sept 27.

Meanwhile, the country's top immigration official insisted there was no sign that former Yingluck has fled the country as speculation mounted that she had slipped out of the kingdom to escape court action.

According to Lt-Gen Nattathorn Phrousunthon, there is no immigration record showing she had left the country.

"There is no immigration record that she has left the country. Yingluck has actually been banned from travelling abroad since 2015," Nattathorn said when contacted in Bangkok.

- Bernama