On the 5th August 2008, Pojaman Shinawatra along with her adopted brother and secretary flew to Beijing to see the Opening of the Beijing Olympic Games. Thaksin Shinawatra had flown earlier to give a lecture in Japan, and the two were expected to meet up in China. According to reports they already had reservations on a Thai Airways flight back to Bangkok for Sunday 10th August. This would mean that they could present themselves to the Supreme Court on Monday 11th as had been arranged when their permission to leave the country had been granted.By Thursday 8th 2008, there was already speculation that they might be seeking exile, possibly in China. The rumours intensified when it was learnt that Pojaman was taking a large number of suitcases with her, and that she had a tearful farewell with all three of her children when they saw her off.
By Friday 9th 2008, confirmation of flights were circulated to all the local media and temporary ended speculation, with many people close to Thaksin stating that there was no way that the couple would fail to fly back to Thailand on the dates previously announced. Even former Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, stated that it would be extremely difficult for someone like Thaksin to find a country which would give him exile.
With reporters at the airport, it was quickly announced that both Thaksin and Pojaman Shinawatra had failed to catch their flight TG 615, and rumours that the couple had fled to England started to spread, although it was still possible at this time for the couple to catch a later plane and go directly to the Supreme Court. Rumours were also circulating that the couples three children had already left Thailand, and planned to meet up with their parents in London.
With their failure to present themselves On Monday 11th August 2008, the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders issued an arrest warrant for the couple. The panel of judges ruled that both failed to abide by the conditions set by the court for their permission to leave the country. The court forfeited Bt8 million bail money posted by Thaksin and Bt5 million by Pojaman.
Thaksin and Pojaman Shinawatra became once again exiles and fugitives.
Shortly afterwards Thaksin issued a statement from London saying simply, Today is not my Day". He then went on to state on how he felt that his and his family's lives had been threatened on numerous occasions. He accused the country's legal system of employing "double standard" in their proceeding with legal matters against him and his family.
