Former MP for Ayutthaya, Surachet Chaikosol, has claimed Thaksin Shinawatra visited Myanmar earlier this month, and on Sunday posted pictures of the fugitive former prime minister in Yangon on social media.
Mr Surachet, formerly of the now-dissolved People's Power Party, said he received the pictures from his friend — a businessman who was in Myanmar to study investment opportunities.
His friend claimed to see Thaksin at the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon on Feb 5.
Mr Surachet said his friend introduced himself to Thaksin, and the former prime minister talked to him in a friendly manner and explained he was on a trip to make merit. After obtaining the pictures from his friend, he held on to them for several days before deciding to post them on social media.
Mr Surachet said Thaksin told his friend he was happy to discuss anything but politics — including the government and his younger sister and former prime minister Yingluck. Thaksin told his friend he should invest in Myanmar, saying the country is wide open to investors, Mr Surachet said.