Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (Photo: EPA/VNA)Hanoi (VNA)– Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has attended the last hearingof a court case over a rice-pledging scheme under her administration.
The ex-PM arrived atthe Thai Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positionsin Bangkok on July 21. Hundreds of police were deployed to the court compoundin an effort to tighten security. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha warned hersupporters not to create trouble during the hearing.
Under Thailand’scourt procedures, both the defendant and the plaintiff are allowed to deliververbal statements within 30 days after the final hearing. The court will takeup to 14 days to issue its ruling.
If found guilty, Yingluck will face up to 10 years in prison and a seizureof assets worth 35 billion THB for the scheme’s losses.
The rice scheme was a flagship election policythat helped sweep Yingluck to office in a landslide in 2011.
The rice-buying scheme introduced by PM Yingluck Shinawatra in 2011 paidfarmers above market price for their rice, making it uncompetitive in the worldmarket.
The government has found it difficult to sellthe rice and the programme has run into funding problems, leaving many farmerswaiting months for payment.
In January 2015, the National Legislative Assembly charged Yingluck ofnegligence over her management of the rice programme and banned her frompolitics for five years.-VNA
The ex-PM arrived atthe Thai Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positionsin Bangkok on July 21. Hundreds of police were deployed to the court compoundin an effort to tighten security. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha warned hersupporters not to create trouble during the hearing.
Under Thailand’scourt procedures, both the defendant and the plaintiff are allowed to deliververbal statements within 30 days after the final hearing. The court will takeup to 14 days to issue its ruling.
If found guilty, Yingluck will face up to 10 years in prison and a seizureof assets worth 35 billion THB for the scheme’s losses.
The rice scheme was a flagship election policythat helped sweep Yingluck to office in a landslide in 2011.
The rice-buying scheme introduced by PM Yingluck Shinawatra in 2011 paidfarmers above market price for their rice, making it uncompetitive in the worldmarket.
The government has found it difficult to sellthe rice and the programme has run into funding problems, leaving many farmerswaiting months for payment.
In January 2015, the National Legislative Assembly charged Yingluck ofnegligence over her management of the rice programme and banned her frompolitics for five years.-VNA
VNA
