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Former Thai PM Yingluck attends first hearing of rice-scheme trial

Xinhua, January 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Friday appeared at the Supreme Court for the first hearing of a case in which she is accused of malfeasance in administering a controversial rice-pledging scheme.

The hearing lasted from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time with four prosecution witnesses testifying in front of the ousted premier.

Another four hearings will be organized on Feb. 17, Feb. 26, March 4 and March 23, respectively, for 10 more prosecution witnesses to testify.

Yingluck's legal team has called 43 defense witnesses, including the former premier herself.

Yingluck is charged with dereliction of duty and abuse of authority under Section 157 of the Criminal Code and Section 123/1 of the 1999 Counter Corruption Act. She has been accused of failing to stop corruption in the rice program and incurring up to 20 billion U.S. dollars in operational losses.

If found guilty, she could face a maximum jail term of 10 years.

When asked about some new faces in prosecution witnesses who had never appeared in court before, Yingluck said she was not concerned and defense witnesses, who would start to testify in April, were well prepared.

The first hearing was held under tight security, with around 100 police officers deployed to ensure peace and order. Yingluck was welcomed by hundreds of supporters holding roses in hands.

The Thai government started buying rice from farmers at above-market prices in 2011 to shore up rural incomes, fulfilling a campaign pledge by the Pheu Thai Party headed by Yingluck. The scheme has been widely accused of fueling rampant corruption. Enditem