NLA sets Jan 9 to deliberate impeachment against former Thai PM

BANGKOK, Novembe 28 (TNA) - The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has set January 9, 2015 as the date to start its deliberation on an impeachment case against former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra over her alleged negligence in her government’s rice-pledging scheme. NLA members set the date at their Friday's meeting, chaired by NLA President Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, and agreed not to allow Yingluck to submit additional evidence of 72 items to defend herself in the impeachment case. On November 21, Yingluck's lawyer submitted 44 items of evidence to NLA and asked to submit more evidence, citing that the extra evidence was not studied by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). But an NACC member, Vicha Mahakhun, argued that the extra materials were already contained in items NACC had already studied, claiming that Yingluck, who was also then chairperson of the National Rice Policy Committee, had never explained to the anti-graft commission. Yingluck’s lawyer, Norawit Lalaeng, later told journalists that Yingluck may testify by herself on that day. (TNA)