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Former Thai PM indicted over rice subsidy scheme

Thailand ’s Office of the Attorney General formally pressed criminal charges on February 19 against former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra over a loss-ridden rice-subsidy scheme implemented by her government.
Thailand ’s Office of the Attorney General formally pressed criminalcharges on February 19 against former Prime Minister YingluckShinawatra over a loss-ridden rice-subsidy scheme implemented by hergovernment.

If convicted for dereliction of duty, Yingluckcould face ten years in jail, said Chutichai Sakhakorn, director-generalof the special litigation department at the Office of the AttorneyGeneral.

Earlier on January 23, the legislature voted toimpeach the ex-PM for her role in the rice subsidy program, whichincurred national budget losses and cost the country’s place as theworld's leading rice exporter.
With this accusation, she was banned from politics for five years.

The Supreme Court will decide whether or not to accept the case on March 19.-VNA
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