Pheu Thai lawyer claims PM was treated unfairly
The Sunday Nation

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrives at an eatery in Chiang Mai that sells noodle soup for Bt30 a bowl. Guards paid close attention after an uneven floor caused her to fall outside the shop.

BANGKOK: -- Lawyers for the ruling Pheu Thai Party yesterday criticised independent agencies for what they claimed was unfair treatment of the prime minister.

The legal experts were unhappy that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was given "only 15 days" in extra time by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to explain herself after charging her with dereliction of duty over the government's controversial rice price-pledging scheme.

The party lawyers also accused the Election Commission (EC) of "acting in a hostile way" against the PM in their investigation into allegations that she abused her political position during election campaigning.

Pichit Chuenban, a key member of the legal team, said they had asked the anti-graft body for 45 days for Yingluck to provide a written explanation but it only allowed them 15 days.

He said that in similar cases against senior permanent officials, the NACC had allowed them 30 days to provide an explanation.

"But in the case of the prime minister, only 15 days is allowed. The NACC must explain to society about this," Pichit said.

The prime minister, who chairs the National Rice Policy Committee, has been accused of dereliction of duty for allegedly failing to end the rice scheme, which is tainted with irregularities.

The NACC, which last month charged the prime minister with dereliction of duty, has extended by 15 days the deadline for her to defend herself.

The PM sought 45 more days, saying that more time was needed to prepare evidence to clear her.

Pichit claimed the EC also looked to be acting in a hostile way against the prime minister while investigating allegations that she abused her authority during campaigning in the run-up to the February 2 election.

He said the prime minister had no intention of taking advantage of her position when making provincial visits in the run-up to the snap poll.

Critics complained that it was unfair to other political parties for the prime minister to make such visits, during which she was greeted by senior local officials and supporters of the ruling party.

The caretaker prime minister said she had no worries over the NACC's case. She spoke at her home province of Chiang Mai yesterday and was accompanied by her son.

Senator Prasarn Marukpitak has written an open letter to the prime minister in response to her claim that she did not do anything wrong and was treated unfairly by the courts and independent agencies dealing with the many cases against her.

Prasarn pointed to a number of controversial moves by the ruling party, such as the backing of a bill that would give blanket amnesty to all people involved in recent political conflicts, including politicians convicted of corruption and people convicted of serious crimes, including murder and arson.

"Please think carefully about this. Between you and others, who actually follows the rules and who refuses to obey them?" the senator said.

-- The Nation 2014-03-16

He said that in similar cases against senior permanent officials, the NACC had allowed them 30 days to provide an explanation.

So why did the lawyers ask for 45 days? It seems they wanted Yingluck to be treated unfairly (to her advantage) in the first place. The lawyers sound like a lot of the red apologists on this forum, but....but....but it's not fair. The reason they are complaining is that now they can only charge 15 days extra fees instead of 45....shmucks!

15 days does seem a little short in legal proceedings. I know in Australia there is a minimum of 28 day for a respondent/defendant and it is also their right to apply for additional time which can be granted 3 times..

Why doesn't she just tell them that she is busy with the demonstrations and she will get back to them after they have been concluded just like Suthep and his band of wanted people have said.

Sounds fair and makes it an equal playing field instead of stacking all the chips on one side.

15 days does seem a little short in legal proceedings. I know in Australia there is a minimum of 28 day for a respondent/defendant and it is also their right to apply for additional time which can be granted 3 times..

Why doesn't she just tell them that she is busy with the demonstrations and she will get back to them after they have been concluded just like Suthep and his band of wanted people have said.

Sounds fair and makes it an equal playing field instead of stacking all the chips on one side.

This is an ADDITIONAL 15 days. That seems perfectly fair to answer the charges, they are not presenting her full defence in court.

Edited March 15, 201412 yr by GentlemanJim

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrives at an eatery in Chiang Mai that sells noodle soup for Bt30 a bowl. Guards paid close attention after an uneven floor caused her to fall outside the shop

The graceful PM pirouetting out of her van at the food shop.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrives at an eatery in Chiang Mai that sells noodle soup for Bt30 a bowl. Guards paid close attention after an uneven floor caused her to fall outside the shop

The graceful PM pirouetting out of her van at the food shop.

image.jpg

More money for public works is required in the rural areas and not just Bangkok. Welcome to how the other half live.

Unfair treatment,... yeah right... she's just a mindless puppet of her brother, so how can you blame her...

Right, how about the over a year to give an answer about her brother being issued a Passport illegally. Same action

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrives at an eatery in Chiang Mai that sells noodle soup for Bt30 a bowl. Guards paid close attention after an uneven floor caused her to fall outside the shop

The graceful PM pirouetting out of her van at the food shop.

More money for public works is required in the rural areas and not just Bangkok. Welcome to how the other half live.

Chiang Mai is "rural"?

Bangkok doesn't have any uneven sidewalks?

Have you ever even been to either place?

Edited March 16, 201412 yr by kuthow

Maybe the farmers PTP swindled should ask the violent brutal loan-sharks they were forced to go to, for some extra time to repay, then complain that being given only fifteen days is "unfair treatment." I think Yingluck and Co should try spending a few years in those farmers' shoes, then they can talk about unfairness. Shameful and disgusting treatment of hardworking loyal citizens. No excuses.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrives at an eatery in Chiang Mai that sells noodle soup for Bt30 a bowl. Guards paid close attention after an uneven floor caused her to fall outside the shop

The graceful PM pirouetting out of her van at the food shop.

image.jpg

More money for public works is required in the rural areas and not just Bangkok. Welcome to how the other half live.

Rural areas don't tend to have side walks, folks walk inside the white lines.

He said that in similar cases against senior permanent officials, the NACC had allowed them 30 days to provide an explanation.

"But in the case of the prime minister, only 15 days is allowed. The NACC must explain to society about this," Pichit said.

Her lawyers acknowledged the charges on Feb 28, she was granted an additional 15 days on March 14. By my math, that is about 30 days. The way her lawyers where talking back on Feb 28, they really only needed the 15 days givin in the first place.

He elaborated that the team would be able to produce a rebuttal to the charges within 15 days. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/707591-yinglucks-lawyer-confident-of-her-innocence-in-rice-graft-charges/

She should try and navigate along the broken sidewalks and around all the noodle stalls and rubbish Thais love to place as an obstruction to pedestrians.

She is spoilt and living in another world compared to the average person in this country.

Has she been treated as unfairly as the rice farmers? I don't think so.

looks like to much ear med

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrives at an eatery in Chiang Mai that sells noodle soup for Bt30 a bowl. Guards paid close attention after an uneven floor caused her to fall outside the shop

The graceful PM pirouetting out of her van at the food shop.

image.jpg

More money for public works is required in the rural areas and not just Bangkok. Welcome to how the other half live.

Rural areas don't tend to have side walks, folks walk inside the white lines.

The video on YouTube shows that she fell out of the van. Maybe her foot caught the kerb as she stepped down. Nothing to do with uneven footpaths.

Sent from my GT-N5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Did Charlerm roll out after her.

Did Charlerm roll out after her.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrives at an eatery in Chiang Mai that sells noodle soup for Bt30 a bowl. Guards paid close attention after an uneven floor caused her to fall outside the shop

The graceful PM pirouetting out of her van at the food shop.

image.jpg

More money for public works is required in the rural areas and not just Bangkok. Welcome to how the other half live.

Well her families government have been in power at different times since 2001 for over 7 years. Why haven't they?

Isn't Chiang Mai Thailand's 2nd largest city. Hardly rural!

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Might we have an opinion from the PT Legal Team on the legality of the Puppet PM aiding and abetting a convicted and fugitive felon?

She was too busy looking at fruit in the north to attend the first hearing in person remember.

She has had a chance to defend herself and declined

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

How does one 'provide evidence to clear her'....normally evidence is used to find someone guilty, as you cannot 'prove' innocence, unless she wants to frame someone else for her mistakes. 15 days is plenty of time, especially for a PM who should have ready access to all documents regarding this scheme. She wasn't even bothered to turn up in person to the first hearing. That hardly endears her to the hearts of the NACC. Why should they give her any extra time?

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrives at an eatery in Chiang Mai that sells noodle soup for Bt30 a bowl. Guards paid close attention after an uneven floor caused her to fall outside the shop

The graceful PM pirouetting out of her van at the food shop.

image.jpg

More money for public works is required in the rural areas and not just Bangkok. Welcome to how the other half live.

Rural areas don't tend to have side walks, folks walk inside the white lines.

The video on YouTube shows that she fell out of the van. Maybe her foot caught the kerb as she stepped down. Nothing to do with uneven footpaths.

Sent from my GT-N5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrives at an eatery in Chiang Mai that sells noodle soup for Bt30 a bowl. Guards paid close attention after an uneven floor caused her to fall outside the shop

The graceful PM pirouetting out of her van at the food shop.

image.jpg

More money for public works is required in the rural areas and not just Bangkok. Welcome to how the other half live.

Rural areas don't tend to have side walks, folks walk inside the white lines.

The video on YouTube shows that she fell out of the van. Maybe her foot caught the kerb as she stepped down. Nothing to do with uneven footpaths.

Sent from my GT-N5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

No class at ll....should have gone down like Chalerm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdgIDHe4WY8

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrives at an eatery in Chiang Mai that sells noodle soup for Bt30 a bowl. Guards paid close attention after an uneven floor caused her to fall outside the shop

The graceful PM pirouetting out of her van at the food shop.

image.jpg

I always said she was unstable. I thought it was just mentally though. I stand corrected. Pun intended!!

Falling out of a van is blamed on uneven footpaths??? Nothing is ever Barbie's fault, is it.

The NACC could have replied that since the PTP government cut their budget by 60% they need to streamline and speed up their work to save money.

"But in the case of the prime minister, only 15 days is allowed. The NACC must explain to society about this," Pichit said.

No..... YL and the government need to explain to society exactly where 700 billion baht has gone from the rice scam, where further hundreds of billions have gone from the first water management budget that produced nothing, from the first car buyer scheme that now can not pay either, and why they need to set out on a campaign against the independent agencies on the command of the UDD leaders who actually issued the 'war on the agencies'.

Why does she need more time just to set out a system of lies... The case is obvious that she is incompetent and not capable of running anything... She can't even get out of a van without falling on her arse.

The NACC is doing the country a huge service by speeding up her exit, and their first duty is to the country.

After the most entertaining part, she is seen not really engaged in 'government project inspection' duties.

As a matter of fact, I would say that this sort of action is a lot more tantamount to election campaigning on public funds.

Edited March 16, 201412 yr by PepperMe

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrives at an eatery in Chiang Mai that sells noodle soup for Bt30 a bowl. Guards paid close attention after an uneven floor caused her to fall outside the shop

The graceful PM pirouetting out of her van at the food shop.

image.jpg

More money for public works is required in the rural areas and not just Bangkok. Welcome to how the other half live.

Well her families government have been in power at different times since 2001 for over 7 years. Why haven't they?

Isn't Chiang Mai Thailand's 2nd largest city. Hardly rural!

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Actually Nonthaburi is by far Thailands second largest city.... just a point..

An off topic post has been removed as well as the replies.