Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had left the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the United Kingdom. (Photo: Reuters)Hanoi (VNA) – Thai police announced on October 3 that fugitiveformer Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had left the United Arab Emirates(UAE) for the United Kingdom.
Deputy National Police Commissioner General Pol. Gen. Srivara Ransibrahmanakulquoted a “reliable source” in the UAE, saying that Yingluck had left Dubai forLondon.
He said that public prosecutors would dutifully coordinate with the Ministry ofForeign Affairs to call for the British authorities to extradite the formerleader to Thailand to serve a five-year jail term. Both sides already reached acriminal extradition agreement.
According to a new legislation on criminal lawsuits against politicians, Yingluckstands no chance to appeal against her five-year jail sentence. The new law,which takes effect from September 29, also ends her political career, saidMeechai Ruchupan, head of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).
Yingluck failed to appear for her verdict on August 25, prompting the SupremeCourt to issue an arrest warrant.
She was accused of abusing power in May, 2014. Her dereliction of the ricesubsidy scheme supervision led to severe loss to the country. If found guilty,she will be subject to a jail term of 10 years and face the seizure of assetsworth 35 billion baht (nearly 1 billion USD) over the loss.
The rice scheme was a flagship policy of Yingluck’s election campaign with thePheu Thai party, which helped her win the 2011 general election. The schemeoffered to buy rice from farmers at a double of market price then keep in storehouses nationwide.-VNA
VNA
