Former Thai PM faces negligence charges
February 19, 2015
Yingluckwas accused by prosecutors on Thursday of desertion in overseeing a rice subsidy scheme which lost billions of dollars and temporarily cost Thailand its title as the world's top rice exporter.
"Today we have indicted former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ... for dereliction of duty" in relation to the costly rice scheme, said Chutichai Sakhakorn, director-general of the special litigation department at the Office of the Attorney General.
If found guilty, Yingluck could face up to a decade in prison. As a convicted criminal, she would be unable to run for political office again. Thailand's Supreme Court will decide whether to hear the case on March 19.
Huge losses
The failed rice-buying scheme was a flagship policy that helped Yingluck's Pheu Thai Party win elections in 2011. After it was implemented four years ago, however, the program accumulated losses of at least 3.9 billion euros ($4.46 billion), as the Thai government stockpiled rice to avoid even bigger losses.
Under the scheme, Thailand's farmers were paid about 50 percent above what they would get on the world market.
Military coup
Yingluck was removed from office in May in a controversial court ruling shortly before the military seized power in a coup. Months of mass protests against her rule preceded her departure.
Last month, the former prime minister was also charged on similar grounds by the military-appointed legislature, which means she was also banned from politics for five years.
Yingluck's supporters regard the case as being politically motivated, in part, as she is now unable to stand for office in democratic elections promised by the junta for early next year.
Political analysts argue that what was truly at the heart of the impeachment case was the royalist-military establishment's desire to wipe out the influence of Yingluck's older brother and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from Thai politics. He has long lived in self-imposed exile to avoid being jail on a graft conviction.
ksb/sms (AFP, AP)