POLICE yesterday confirmed they had found evidence that former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra had fled the country as pressure mounted on the government regarding the “weak” investigation into her disappearance.

Authorities would proceed with revoking her passport only after the Supreme Court rules on her case, according to deputy police chief Pol General Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul.

After Yingluck failed to appear in court last month, a second date of September 27 was set for the court to read the verdict, in which the ex-premier faces a possible 10-year jail term if convicted of criminal negligence related to her government’s previous rice-pledging scheme.

Srivara said police had found evidence in “Bangkok and upcountry” related to her disappearance on August 23. He declined to confirm whether the evidence involved a Toyota Fortuner, which was reportedly used in her escape.

Police previously had declined to confirm that Yingluck was not in Thailand.

“The investigation has made progress,” Srivara said, but he refused to disclose further details about the case.

Over the past week, police have expanded their investigation to cover vehicles and online posts to trace her movements before she disappeared ahead of the reading of the Supreme Court’s verdict on August 25.

On Friday, Srivara told a press conference there was no evidence to indicate Yingluck’s whereabouts.

“Based on investigations over the past seven days, police have not yet confirmed whether Yingluck has already fled the country or is still in Thailand, since there is no evidence either way,” Srivara said at the time.

Police had focused on a car that could have been used in the former prime minister’s escape after they denied that a police pickup truck, which had reportedly been seen driving out of the former premier’s residence on August 23, was used in the escape.

It was later reported that the police truck was from the Lat Phrao Police Station and on a regular patrol.

Details of another “suspicious” car have not been revealed.

Srivara added that he had not been pressured by senior officials, including Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan. Meanwhile, Prawit yesterday was apparently unconcerned about public sentiment regarding Yingluck’s disappearance.

“The public is no longer interested because they’re aware she’s gone,” he said.

Yingluck was last seen publicly on August 23 while she was making merit at a Bangkok temple.

Prawit however acknowledged that there had been fresh speculation about her escape regarding a convoy of vehicles that had been seen leaving her home on August 23.

He said he had nothing to add about the situation and the government had no idea where Yingluck was, but had people looking for her and that the Foreign Ministry had been in touch with Thailand’s embassies overseas.

Prawit also said that no high-ranking officials had helped Yingluck flee, as had been widely surmised.

However, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajava said he doubted the government’s effort as he had not seen much progress.

The government should be more serious about the issue because it could be affected if Yingluck has fled the country and manages to seek asylum, Abhisit said, adding that the international community would ask Thailand to explain why she had fled the country.

The government should establish whether the issue was political or criminal, or the country’s judicial system would be in jeopardy, Abhisit said.

He added that the government should explain why it had not taken action to revoke Yingluck’s passport.

Referring to his former capacity as premier of the government that revoked former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s passports, Abhisit said Yingluck’s situation met the criteria for revocation.

The criteria include an arrest warrant and prohibition of overseas trips.