The Thai government on Wednesday began preparing to request the extradition of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who returned to exile in Britain after missing a court appearance earlier this week.
The Supreme Court issued arrest warrants Monday for Thaksin and his wife Pojaman after they failed to attend a scheduled hearing on a corruption case pending against them.
The couple, who traveled to China last week for the Olympics opening ceremony, were also ordered to forfeit a total of 13 million baht ($389,000) bail.
Thaksin said in a handwritten statement Monday that he had decided to return to Britain because he could not expect a fair trial in Thailand, where he was prime minister from 2001 to September 2006, when he was ousted in a military coup.
The government faces pressure to get him back, though many said his departure would help ease political tensions that began with protests early in 2006 seeking his removal from office because of alleged corruption and abuse of power.