Missing Dutch television personality and politician Emile Ratelband, whose family is seeking information as to his whereabouts, left Thailand late last year, according to immigration police.

The Immigration Bureau said on Saturday that Mr Ratelband, 70, and his close friend Natalia da Silva had arrived in Thailand at Suvarnabhumi airport in December 2021. They applied for visas and declared their place of accommodation in a southern province.

Mr Ratelband left Thailand via a Thai-Lao friendship bridge to Laos late last year. Ms Natalia departed Thailand the same day by air from Suvarnabhumi airport to a Mideast country. There is no official immigration record of either of them returning, police said. 

Even so, immigration police have ordered a nationwide search for the missing Dutchman. It follows a request from Mr Ratelband’s family and relatives in Phuket, who have offered a reward of €2,500 (about 94,000 baht) for information as to his whereabouts.