BREAKING NEWS Thai Court Orders Ex-PM Yingluck to Pay 10 Billion Baht in Rice Scheme

[snoop1130]

Yingluck Shinawatra | File photo courtesy of AFP via SCMP

 

In a significant legal decision, the Supreme Administrative Court in Thailand has ordered former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to pay 10.028 billion baht ($306 million) in damages related to her administration's controversial rice-pledging scheme. This ruling partially reverses an earlier judgment by the Central Administrative Court, which had annulled a 2016 order from the Ministry of Finance.

 

The original order sought an enormous 35.717 billion baht from Yingluck, attributing her responsibility for alleged corruption and her failure to prevent financial losses as part of the rice-pledging programme. This scheme was designed to support local farmers by buying rice at inflated prices, but it ultimately drew criticism for mismanagement and corruption, leading to significant financial deficits.

 

The Ministry of Finance, unsatisfied with the Central Administrative Court’s decision to void the initial claim, pursued an appeal that has now resulted in a new verdict. The Supreme Administrative Court’s ruling mandates Yingluck to shoulder a substantial financial penalty, though it’s a fraction of the amount initially targeted by the Ministry.

 

This development marks another chapter in Yingluck's ongoing legal troubles since her government was ousted from power. The ruling has rekindled discussions over the financial and political ramifications of the rice scheme, highlighting the complexities surrounding public accountability in high-stakes government policies.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from TNA 2025-05-22

 

 

[WHansen]

Wow, crack that piggy bank open.

[JoePai]

My prayers have been answered 

[billd766]

So what happened to all the money when all the rice was finally sold.

 

Where did that go to I wonder.

[StayinThailand2much]

27 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

In a significant legal decision, the Supreme Administrative Court in Thailand has ordered former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to pay 10.028 billion baht ($306 million) in damages related to her administration's controversial rice-pledging scheme.

 

Haha, big brother probably has to bail her out (if she ever really has to pay that). According to Google, her net worth is 'only' US$25 million... 😆 

[StayinThailand2much]

12 minutes ago, billd766 said:

So what happened to all the money when all the rice was finally sold.

 

Where did that go to I wonder.

 

Didn't they store part of it like for twelve years, then (tried to sell it) cheaply to buyers in Africa in 2023? 

[Jim Blue]

Cash , check or electronic transfer ?

[BritScot]

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

So what happened to all the money when all the rice was finally sold.

 

Where did that go to I wonder.

The generals took it!!! Maybe? Just saying.

[george]

Thaksin, time to find that cheque book again...

[LennyW]

And make that payable to who exactly?

[BritScot]

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

So what happened to all the money when all the rice was finally sold.

 

Where did that go to I wonder.

Watch! Land deal. Rice pledging scheme (remember Joseph and his technicolor coat) was sound but failed to take into account currupt Thais. How can she be held responsible for others who stole??? Maybe time for all Generals to be audited! Oh they can't do that as no one would do the job "bang, bang your dead". Audit the blimp, detectors and submarines or lack of!!!

[metisdead]

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[Quentin Zen]

I wonder if they all agree on 9 and then someone says, "Hey, let's make it a nice round number....10!!!!"

 

what's a billion between friends. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Pocket change for the family, som nom nah!!!

 

Meanwhile, wonder if this development has anything to do with the government's recent proposed changes on taxation of foreign-sourced income remitted back into Thailand?

 

[motdaeng]

10 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Pocket change for the family, som nom nah!!!

... 306 millionen us dollar ... i don't think that is "pocket change" even for khun toni ... khun toni will not be a happy brother about this development ....

[anchadian]

 

https://x.com/SaksithCNA/status/1925531463170367496

 

[ukrules]

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

mismanagement and corruption, leading to significant financial deficits.

 

That's how everything works isn't it?

Look at this taxation malarkey - by increasing the tax net they are going to end up collecting far less.

Should Srettha Thavisin be made to pay for that out of his pocket? He was PM when the change was made - so it's his fault right?

 

How many billions of Baht did he cost the economy already - it's ongoing too

 

The answer is no of course, a Prime Minister should not have to pay personally for their dumb policies - they should really do a better job.

[ikke1959]

The family has money enough so n problem for them... they will suck more out of the country and its people now

[ozz1]

Will that mean she can come back and maybe work it off it Will take a while

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This scheme was designed to support local farmers by buying rice at inflated prices, but it ultimately drew criticism for mismanagement and corruption, leading to significant financial deficits.

Everyone except the farmers got rich... 

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, JoePai said:

My prayers have been answered 

Thaksin's gonna be pissed, he'll have to bail out Sis

[Shocked farang]

She's out of the country as far as I know...

[thaipo7]

When her brother sold the telecommunications  business in 2006, he received $1.7 billion that was tax free.  Then somehow both of his children received $650 million each. 

[mfd101]

12 hours ago, ukrules said:

a Prime Minister should not have to pay personally for their dumb policies - they should really do a better job.

Precisely. If in 'Western' democracies every President or PM or Minister who introduced a mediocre or bad or disastrous policy had to pay out millions or billions from their private pocket as a result, there wouldn't be any competent government to be found. Every government would play it super safe and never achieve anything.

 

Ridiculous.

[crazykopite]

Her days of returning to Thailand are over she will now take up permanent residency in another country no doubt in one of brother Toni’s many properties that he owns overseas . Apparently she enjoys living in London I couldn’t think of a worse place to live 

[Rickman66]

15 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Didn't they store part of it like for twelve years, then (tried to sell it) cheaply to buyers in Africa in 2023? 

It got infestation of rot and all got taken to the gulf of Thailand and dumped 

[GreasyFingers]

12 hours ago, ukrules said:

The answer is no of course, a Prime Minister should not have to pay personally for their dumb policies - they should really do a better job.

She has only been ordered to pay 5.6% of the total losses of 178 billion. Not unreasonable as every one knew at the time it was a scam for her and her cronies.

[Srikcir]

15 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Didn't they store part of it like for twelve years, then (tried to sell it) cheaply to buyers in Africa in 2023? 

"Over 18.9 million tons of rice remaining in warehouses were sold by the Thai government at prices far below market value, with no progress in investigations or responsible parties identified to this day."

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/news/politics/40050323

 

[soalbundy]

Cheque is in the post.

[KhunLA]

27 minutes ago, thaipo7 said:

When her brother sold the telecommunications  business in 2006, he received $1.7 billion that was tax free.  Then somehow both of his children received $650 million each. 

Tax free since sold within the SET, just like every investor.  No special tax break for Thaksin