Politics Pheu Thai Bids to Cut Yingluck’s Rice Scheme Penalty

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FILE - Former Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra talks to reporters as she arrives at the Supreme Court for last day of the hearing in Bangkok, Thailand, July 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

 

In a fresh move on Sunday, Pheu Thai declared its intention to use administrative law in a bid to slash former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's financial penalty from the controversial rice-pledging scheme.

 

Party spokesman Danuporn Punnakan announced that Pheu Thai will approach the Supreme Administrative Court to reconsider the steep 10.028 billion baht Yingluck is required to pay. Despite a final ruling, Pheu Thai hopes their initiative will shave off some of the costs affecting Yingluck.

 

Citing Article 75 of the administrative law established in 1999, Pheu Thai plans to present new evidence, claiming it might cast a different view on the final verdict.

 

The key evidence revolves around the sale of 18.9 million tonnes of rice post-court proceedings, possibly altering the damage evaluation. "We will invoke Article 75 as a new legal channel for her," added Danuporn, hoping these rice stock sales could reduce the perceived fiscal damage and thus Yingluck's financial burden.

 

Previously, Yingluck had been held responsible for failing to curtail a bogus government-to-government rice contract, which financially drained the Thai state.

 

The Supreme Court currently demands she pay half of the total damages, which amassed to 20.057 billion baht. For Pheu Thai, the rice-pledging scheme isn’t merely a policy but a pivotal pillar for Yingluck's 2011 election win and an effort to uplift the farming community that they argue should be reconsidered.

 

Amid this legal wrangling, Pheu Thai maintains their belief that Yingluck was specially targeted by the succeeding government after the coup.

 

Danuporn claims expedited legal tactics were leveraged against her, using the rice controversy to justify their coup-driven power grab. Meanwhile, in an effort to balance focus, Pheu Thai is also backing an amnesty draft for lese majeste defendants, with Parliamentary discussion slated for July 9.

 

In essence, the fresh evidence and legal channels offer a glimmer of hope for Yingluck, with Pheu Thai pursuing potential relief from hefty penalties, while seeking to right what they perceive as political injustices in the process.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-05-26

 

 

[seajae]

they are covering their own bums, they knew what they have done is illegal but do not want the punishment now or in the future as they will always find ways to rip off the country to benefit themselves, they are the most corrupt party in Thailand run by the most corrupt leader. Trouble is those that could stop the rot are also in it for the rewards

[ikke1959]

Should justice not be independent instead that political parties want to interfere ??? She got a big discount already, so why worry for this family.. They have more than enough and still if they have paid back this amount they will more than enough..Or if the party feels sorry for her, let the members of this party pay a part of it.. They all have too much money too, because they play all in one or another way a role with this family