Ms Yingluck, who became Thailand's first female prime minister in 2011, is accused of criminal negligence after overseeing a scheme that subsidised rice farmers, with growers paid twice the market rate for their crop.
It led to huge stockpiles of rice and damaged the country’s rice exports, leading to allegations of corruption and wasted money.
She has pleaded innocent and rejected the charges as politically motivated.
She had been due in court on Friday to hear the verdict but failed to appear, prompting the Supreme Court to issue an arrest warrant.
Judge Cheep Chulamon said he had been informed by Ms Yingluck’s lawyer that she had become unwell.
“The court does not believe she is sick... and has decided to issue an arrest warrant," he said.
A senior source in Ms Yingluck’s Pheu Thai party told AFP she was "likely in Singapore”.
http://www.independent.co.uk
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