Former female Thai PM barred from going abroad pending court trial

BANGKOK, February 9 (TNA) - The army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) wants former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to stay in the country pending her trial in a court. Thai Army Chief General Udomdej Sitabutr, who is also NCPO Secretary-General, told journalists of the policy on Monday morning, before flying to Singapore for a two-day official visit from February 9-10, conceding that NCPO has suspended Yingluck’s recent request to travel abroad. General Udomdej explained that Thai Prime Minister and NCPO Chief General Prayut Chan-ocha ordered the suspension, after carefully considering information and legal aspects, as the attorney general is preparing to file a case against Yingluck with the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions for alleged dereliction of duty in her previous government's loss-ridden rice-pledging scheme. The army chief insisted on the necessity and a caution on the NCPO's decision, saying that NCPO would like to offer conveniences to everyone who cooperates but something affects the case, which draws public attention and has subsequent impacts and the request was, thus, suspended pending the court’s ruling. (TNA)