Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra will likely be cleared of any alleged wrongdoing related to the Foreign Ministry's decision in 2011 to reinstate Thaksin's passports, according to the head of the anti-graft agency.
Panthep Klanarongran, chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), said a panel is wrapping up its inquiry into the case and preliminary findings suggest Ms Yingluck is in the clear.
He said the panel will finish scrutinising the evidence and forward its findings to the NACC, which can then decide if it wants to pursue an investigation to implicate anyone for reinstating Thaksin's passports.
The deposed prime minister's two ordinary passports were revoked following the coup on Sept 19, 2006, but were returned in 2011 after the Yingluck government came to power.
The move prompted the Democrat Party to file a petition with the NACC, demanding the impeachment of Ms Yingluck and then-foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.
The NACC investigation resurfaced after the Foreign Ministry decided to revoke Thaksin's passports over his interview in Seoul on May 20 with Chosun Ilbo newspaper when he said privy councillors supported the May 22 coup which ousted his sister.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said Wednesday that the decision over whether to strip Thaksin of his police lieutenant colonel rank will be decided by police and will be underscored by laws and regulations, not grudges or vendetta.
Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda agreed with those remarks, saying moves to strip his rank would be done according to the book and no one had anything to fear. Authorities must not be intimidated by fears of violence, he said, referring to public concern that actions taken against Thaksin will spark anger among Thaksin's supporters.
Three hand grenades and 225 rounds of ammunition were found abandoned on the third floor of the parking building of the Metropolitan Police Bureau's headquarters on Tuesday morning.
Some observers suspect the firearms cache may be linked to the police's decision over whether to revoke Thaksin's rank.
