Former Thai PM Yingluck to face criminal corruption charge: attorney general

[hathairat2711]

BBC Breaking News retweeted

Jonathan Head ‏@pakhead 13m13 minutes ago Dusit, Bangkok

219 members of Thai NLA out of 220 attending to vote on Yingluck impeachment. With criminal charge already filed it's clear how vote will go

BBC Breaking News retweeted

Jonathan Head ‏@pakhead 14m14 minutes ago Dusit, Bangkok

Voting underway on Yingluck impeachment motion in the Thai NLA. Members casting yellow ballot for YL, white and pink for 2 former speakers.

[brucec64]

I'll take that as a vote that you think the current leader should also be jailed - didn't the the NYT just publish an assessed loss of $15 billion as a result of the coup? Far more than the policies she took to the country and got a mandate for.

Why should anyone believe the New York Times... and just for your knowledge Snig, one cannot lose moneys that one did not have in the first place.. so, who made the assessment...you..? Go take a look in the mirror and you should agree with me that your time could be better spent ...

When you make statements like that you just reveal large gaps in your education.

Opportunity cost is one of the key concepts of economics. Take a course and enlighten yourself.

Also, take the time to read news sources outside of Thailand to get a fuller idea of what is going on.

[hathairat2711]

Jonathan Head ‏@pakhead 2m2 minutes ago Dusit, Bangkok

Yingluck impeached. Required 132 votes in assembly favour impeaching her. She will be banned from politics for 5 years.

[CWMcMurray]

Have to admit.. Smart to indict for dereliction of duty instead of corruption...

Corruption is a difficult one to prove... Especially if most of the corruption money went to others 'loyal to the cause'...

Considering that she didn't seem to actually do much of any substance, this may be the better case.

As she can then no longer deflect by saying ... I did not go to that meeting or did not make that decision or delegated that to someone else...

As those types of answers would hurt her in a case dereliction of duty case... As would then help to prove she was neglecting her duties..

Hope the details of case and questions and responses are openly known in this case ... Assuming it ever reaches that point...

Edited January 23, 2015 by CWMcMurray

[apetley]

10 years in jail if found guilty. I bet she's glad that she wasn't setup on a picking mushrooms in a national park charge as that would have seen her risking a 20 year sentence.

[WhizBang]

If the indictment does proceed, she will be making another overseas trip.

Doubt she would return this time, though.

[scorecard]

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Reform, reconciliation and happiness are just pointless words aren't they. Her primary crime is being elected by those "buffalos" who dared to think they may be entitled to a voice in their own country.

And please, no Chang fuelled barroom theorising or claims that she wasn't elected. Only a fool would claim such (although these forums seem to host a few who claim so over and over).

Your wrong and your wrong.

[scorecard]

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The very first thing that should be actioned, is to take away her passport(s).

Will they? I doubt it.

Wont matter. Suropong will have a back up passport for her in his shinawatra "Run away" files.

Perhaps surapong should also be looking into an alternate passport for himself.

I wonder if diplomatic passports for yingluck and surapong have already been withdrawn?

[webfact]

Attorney General moves to indict ex-PM Yingluck on rice plegding programme
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 23 -- The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) on Friday opted to indict Thailand's former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra on criminal corruption charges, accusing her of dereliction of duty for failing to stop her government-sponsored rice-pledging scheme which was shown to have caused massive losses to the state of more than Bt500 billion.

Surasak Threerattrakul, director general of the OAG Department of Investigation, told a press conference that Attorney-General Trakul Winitnaiyapak belived that the anency should file criminal charges against her.

Mr Surasak said a combined panel of OAG and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on Tuesday considered the evidence and agreed unanimously that it was sufficient to file charges against Ms Yingluck in the Supreme Court for Holders of Political Positions under the Criminal Code 157 and the 1999 Constitution concerning corruption prevention.

It is believed that charges could be filed to the Court as soon as within one month or in March, said Mr Surasak, adding that it is unnecessary to bring Ms Yingluck to the Court in person on that day as the prosecutor could file the charges independently.

Whether Ms Yingluck could receive bailed or travel abroad after the charges are filed is up to the discretion of the Court, he said.

Mr Surasak emphasized that the OAG decision to file criminal charges against Ms Yingluck is not related to members of the National Legislative Assembly voting on impeaching her today on the rice-pledging scheme.

Norawit Lalaeng, Ms Yingluck's lawyer, submitted a letter to the OAG, asking for justice just before the press conference began.

The letter said the OAG should wait before taking legal action against her because the OAG had not completely studied the investigation, especially certain points on which the ex-prime minister had sought justice. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2015-01-23

[webfact]

Attorney General to file a criminal charge against Yingluck

BANGKOK, 23 January 2015 (NNT)-The Office of the Attorney General is planning to file a criminal lawsuit against former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in the Supreme Court, following her government's failed rice scheme.

The Director General of the Office of the Attorney General, Surasak Triratakul and the Office’s Deputy Spokesperson Kosolwat Intuchanyong held a press conference where they said they have sufficient evidence to prosecute Ms. Yingluck for allowing the rice scheme to be corrupted.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission submitted a letter asking the Office of the Attorney General to pursue criminal charges against Ms. Yingluck, under the law. They added that a working team had been set up to review and verify the evidence twice. The lawsuit is expected to be filed within one month.


-- NNT 2015-01-23

[Thaiwine]

I feel sorry for her,

Yes I don't think she was qualified for the job,

I think she was more like a tv presenter, looks good and follows a script,

IMO she was used and abused by people she trusted,

She's getting a pretty hard lesson in the school of knocks and bruises.

[samii]

They are prosecuting criminals just now, not sucking up to their supporters.

So when is the next prosecution? There is a lot others who should be standing there as well. Start with old timers like "The Monk". For me this prosecution is equivalent to sucking up their supporters

[maidee]

would be nice to see all her money/bank/house/cars

impounded

[metisdead]

Off-topic, trolling, inflammatory posts and replies removed.

Please stay on the topic of the thread. That means addressing the issues presented in the post, not in making comments to or about other posters. Doing so is off-topic and your post will be removed and you could face a suspension. Digging through other member's posts and bringing them up on the forum can be considered stalking and it is against the forum rules.

You have every right to express your opinion about the topic. You may disagree, but it must be done in a civil manner.

[ratcatcher]

I feel sorry for her,

Yes I don't think she was qualified for the job,

I think she was more like a tv presenter, looks good and follows a script,

IMO she was used and abused by people she trusted,

She's getting a pretty hard lesson in the school of knocks and bruises.

"....she was used and abused by people she trusted,"

The user and abuser. The victim of abuse.

[PepperMe]

If the indictment does proceed, she will be making another overseas trip.

Doubt she would return this time, though.

A few members are saying this..... "If they do decide to prosecute"....

This is not the same setup as it is for the public... She is already indicted, and so she is definitely going to court over this. Her fate is sealed.

This does not go to the public prosecutor, the OAG is the prosecutor in political cases, and is already lodged with the Supreme Court for Political Office Holders.

The only thing that can create delays now is the legal teams stalling.

This criminal case should be over in no more than 6 months, because this court has no queue of cases.

No defendants will be in this country by the time of the trial.

They should FREEZE all their assets with a confiscation order should they abscond. At least that way, there will be at least a financial reparation if not an actual punishment served.

[Suffinator]

Yingluck, the kingdom's first female premier and the sister of former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, is already facing an impeachment vote later Friday over her administration's populist rice subsidy programme, which funnelled cash to her rural base but cost billions of dollars and inspired protests that felled her government.

What is AFP on about? The protesters didn't bring down the government it was yet another illegal military coup under the pretense that it was the only way to bring peace.

[Loles]

Thanks for the next SHOW BUSINESS.

Circus and bread for the pleb.

[Commerce]

The curfew toll the knell of parting day.

I think we should all buy bells and walk around the streets shouting, "Oyez, oyez," dressed in red

[FangFerang]

I don't like Yingluck, not because of herself, after all she is a not so bright, presentable lady, an ideal woman in my opinion, but for the damage she has caused to her country as a PM.

I don't think she will ever go to jail and I don't wish so, but this will be a good warning to all future politicians attempting to bribe the nation for their own benefit.

"she is a not so bright, presentable lady, an ideal woman in my opinion".

Finally Costas is admitting to be a misogynist and an illogical thinker at the same time.

Well done! I knew it was coming eventually.

Brilliant!

[halloween]

I'll take that as a vote that you think the current leader should also be jailed - didn't the the NYT just publish an assessed loss of $15 billion as a result of the coup? Far more than the policies she took to the country and got a mandate for.

Why should anyone believe the New York Times... and just for your knowledge Snig, one cannot lose moneys that one did not have in the first place.. so, who made the assessment...you..? Go take a look in the mirror and you should agree with me that your time could be better spent ...

If Snig had a serious disease, and he may well have, and he lost business opportunities while his doctor cured him, by the above logic he would blame the doctor, not the disease.

Given that many believe removal of the Yingluk government was necessary, why shouldn't the cost of removal be attributed to her?

[Baerboxer]

Reform, reconciliation and happiness are just pointless words aren't they. Her primary crime is being elected by those "buffalos" who dared to think they may be entitled to a voice in their own country.

And please, no Chang fuelled barroom theorising or claims that she wasn't elected. Only a fool would claim such (although these forums seem to host a few who claim so over and over).

Her primary crime was, on accepting the job of PM, and swearing oaths, allowing her criminal fugitive brother to really run the government and simply be the photo op girl.

And please no Leo fueled bar room tripe that she was really running anything. Only a fool would deny she was more than another Thaksin stooge.

[patjem]

Please note, Pheu Thai/ red shirts what the meaning of a 'landslide' really is in terms of voting percentages.

[kingstonkid]

The fact that she is being indicted and impeached goes a long way toward reconciliation as it will prove to the people that money will not make a difference.

That you can not buy a country.

That Thaksin may think but Thailand should not do.

The first thing that you have to do before you can start to heat is expose all the wounds and mend them.

Then once they have been done on all sides you can start to heal. As long as there are reasons for people to complain you will never get reconciliation.

I am sure that everyone in the PT and red shirt movement knew that once she lost control of the government and the ability to hide these things she was in trouble.

Unfortunately when you are the PROXY PM you get to serve the punishments of the PM.

[Baerboxer]

Yingluck, the kingdom's first female premier and the sister of former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, is already facing an impeachment vote later Friday over her administration's populist rice subsidy programme, which funnelled cash to her rural base but cost billions of dollars and inspired protests that felled her government.

What is AFP on about? The protesters didn't bring down the government it was yet another illegal military coup under the pretense that it was the only way to bring peace.

AFP write rubbish - usually aimed at showing the Shins in the best possible light.

Yingluck dissolved parliament due to the mass protests caused by trying to ram through an amnesty bill, which would whitewash her brother, in a very unsavory manner. She was then removed from the role of caretaker PM due to an illegal act involving nepotism. The PTP caretaker government were then removed in a peaceful military coup after failing to maintain law and order.

Very, very little of the cash was funnelled to her rural base according to a World Bank report and the poor farmers themselves. Where the money went to may come out in the impending criminal hearings.

[webfact]

Thai ex-PM Yingluck impeached and facing criminal charges

Bangkok | AFP |

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's junta-stacked parliament voted Friday to impeach former premier Yingluck Shinawatra, hours after prosecutors announced plans to indict her for corruption in a double blow that risks reigniting the country's bitter divisions.

The successful impeachment of Yingluck, the kingdom's first female premier and the sister of former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, carries an automatic five year ban from politics while the criminal charges could eventually see her jailed for up to a decade.

Experts say the impeachment and criminal charges are the latest attempt by the country's royalist elite, and its army backers, to nullify the political influence of the Shinawatras, whose parties have won every election since 2001.

But the junta's pursuit of the family could also disturb the uneasy calm that has descended on Thailand since the military took over.

The Shinawatras' 'Red Shirt' supporters, who have lain low since the coup, were enraged by the twin decisions -- but leaders warned against widespread street protests in a country where political gatherings are banned under martial law.

"Today's impeachment is the highest provocation, aimed at encouraging the Red Shirts to come out so they (the government) can shift the blame for all their failures onto the Red Shirts," Jatuporn Prompan, the movement's leader, told viewers on his Peace TV programme.

"I asked the Red Shirt people to exercise maximum restraint... these provocateurs will be disappointed. We still have a long way to go and after what happened to Yingluck, are hearts are awakened," he added.

Both the impeachment and corruption charges revolve around her administration's controversial rice subsidy programme, which funnelled cash to her rural base but cost billions of dollars and inspired protests that felled her government.

A successful impeachment needed support from three fifths of the 220-seat National Legislative Assembly (NLA), a figure easily obtained with 190 voting in favour.

- Frozen out -

Yingluck, 47, was toppled from office by a controversial court ruling shortly before the army staged a coup in May last year.

She now faces years frozen out of Thailand's political landscape.

"The prospect of a jail term would be much more threatening and damaging to her than impeachment," Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a Thai academic at Kyoto University, told AFP.

"The primary aim is to prevent her and the Shinawatras returning to politics should the military be forced to step down and call an election. They simply cannot compete when it comes to electoral politics," he added.

Both Thaksin and Yingluck are loathed by many Thais in the upper and middle classes, but still command huge loyalty from much of the rural poor -- particularly in the Shinawatras' northern strongholds, where rice farming is a mainstay of the local economy, in what is one of the world's largest rice exporters.

The rice subsidy scheme, which purchased the crop from farmers at around twice the market rate, was hugely popular among the Shinawatras' vote base but economically disastrous, leaving Thailand with large unsold stockpiles as regional competitors undercut their exports.

Prosecutors had spent months deciding whether Yingluck should face separate criminal corruption charges over her subsidy scheme.

"We agree that the case substantiates a criminal indictment charge against Yingluck," Surasak Threerattrakul, Director-General of the Office of the Attorney General, said Friday, adding that an indictment is expected in early March.

During the impeachment hearings, which lasted a fortnight, Yingluck defended the rice scheme as a necessary subsidy to help poor farmers who historically receive a disproportionately small slice of government cash.

She also attacked the legality of impeaching her from a position that she had already been removed from.

Analysts said it was always unlikely that the NLA -- which is stacked with junta appointees -- would save Yingluck's political career.

And while imminent street protests are unlikely, observers say the moves against Yingluck will do little to foster the kind of political reconciliation the military claims it is seeking.

"In the medium to longer term, the grievances within the Yingluck/Thaksin side will accumulate and become more virulent when they eventually surface," Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, told AFP.

"Little by little, the move could crystallize into a willingness by Red Shirts to demonstrate," added Paul Chambers, a specialist on Thai politics at Chiang Mai University.

The decision to impeach will delight the coalition of upper and middle class Thais who led the protests that eventually toppled Yingluck's government.

Since Thaksin swept to power in 2001, Shinawatra governments have been floored by two coups and the removal of three other premiers by the kingdom's interventionist courts.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-01-23

[Halion]

Banned from politics for life, Significant asset seizure, imprisonment for 10 years and only allowed to visit Siam Paragon once every 6 months and that would be a good start and send the message that you were sincerely trying to improve the country and clamp down on elitism and corruption.

[In Search of Space]

I don't like Yingluck, not because of herself, after all she is a not so bright, presentable lady, an ideal woman in my opinion, but for the damage she has caused to her country as a PM.

I don't think she will ever go to jail and I don't wish so, but this will be a good warning to all future politicians attempting to bribe the nation for their own benefit.

She will never go to jail, just perhaps a holiday in Dubai. But unfortunately those in power of whatever political genre will never learn and always think that they are cleverer than the voter, that applies to all politicians in all countries, at least those that have votes

[In Search of Space]

I don't like Yingluck, not because of herself, after all she is a not so bright, presentable lady, an ideal woman in my opinion, but for the damage she has caused to her country as a PM.

I don't think she will ever go to jail and I don't wish so, but this will be a good warning to all future politicians attempting to bribe the nation for their own benefit.

"she is a not so bright, presentable lady, an ideal woman in my opinion".

Finally Costas is admitting to be a misogynist and an illogical thinker at the same time.

Well done! I knew it was coming eventually.

Brilliant!

Certainly a Looker, if she had played her cards right many years ago, she could have ended up with me

[Rinrada]

Must be that time of the Month again..... with responses.....Elected Prime Minister impeached by (those nice uniformed chaps) Military Junta...mai mee..jao...

The Sun must be shining over LOS today...