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            Ousted Thai PM to Face Criminal Charges Over Rice Scheme

   by VOA News

   Thailand's Supreme Court has decided to pursue criminal charges against
   former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra over her involvement in a
   mismanaged rice subsidy program that cost the country billions of
   dollars.

   A panel of judges on Thursday ruled the case does fall within the
   court's jurisdiction. The first hearing will be held on May 19,
   according to a court statement. If found guilty, Yingluck could be
   jailed for up to a decade.

   Prosecutors in February charged Yingluck with dereliction of duty for
   overseeing the program, which paid farmers above market prices for
   their rice. Her opponents say the program was an attempt to win the
   farmers' political support.

   Yingluck was ousted by a court order in May 2014, just days before the
   military seized power. Thailand's military-appointed legislature has
   since retroactively impeached her and banned her from politics for five
   years.

   The ex-prime minister claims the case against her is politically
   motivated and insists the rice subsidy program benefited Thai farmers.

   Yingluck is the younger sister of former leader Thaksin Shinawatra,
   himself ousted in a military coup in 2006 over accusations of
   corruption. Thaksin fled Thailand in 2008 when faced with a two-year
   sentence for corruption. Thaksin and his Pheu Thai Party remain
   popular, especially in rural areas.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/ousted-thai-pm-to-face-criminal-charg
   es-over-rice-scheme/2686481.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/ousted-thai-pm-to-face-criminal-charges-over-rice-scheme/2686481.html