Public prosecutors are not seeking the extradition of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra from Hong Kong, where he is expected to attend his daughter's wedding on Friday, according to the Office of the Attorney-General.
International affairs executive director Chatchom Akapin said on Wednesday the Office of the Attorney-General had not filed an extradition request. It was the responsibility of the police to start the process.
He denied recent reports in some media that Thai authorities wrote to Hong Kong authorities seeking the extradition of Thaksin, who is wanted under several arrest warrants in relation to his sentencing in absentia for conflict of interest and other cases still for trial.
"Prosecutors have not sent any request that Hong Kong authorities arrest Thaksin for extradition," Mr Chatchom said.
An extradition process must started with the police knowing the exact whereabouts of a fugitive and reporting the information for public prosecutors to verify it. Later, prosecutors would send an extradition request through the Foreign Ministry to the target country, he said.
"We have not received any information from the police and we can do nothing at this stage."
Mr Chatchom said that Thailand and Hong Kong do not have an extradition treaty. A special reciprocal extradition request could be sent instead, but there were more procedures for this process.
Thaksin fled Thailand in 2008 just before the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions sentenced him to two years in jail for a conflict of interest in his then-wife's purchase of state-owned land in inner Bangkok in 2003 when he was prime minister.
He is also wanted for court trial in cases involving dubious loans extended by Krungthai Bank and the Export-Import Bank, government lottery policies, and changes to telecommunications companies' concession fees.