Thai Attorney General arraigns Yingluck over rice-pledging scheme

BANGKOK, February 19 (TNA) - The Attorney General has filed a criminal indictment with the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra for failing to stop the controversial rice-pledging scheme, that caused massive losses to the country. Representatives of the Office of Attorney General (OAG), including Chutichai Sakhakorn, director for special litigation, and Surasak Trirat, director for interrogation, on Thursday morning submitted 20 boxes of documents containing criminal charges against the former premier over the now-defunct rice scheme to the court. Yingluck was not present the court and sent her lawyer Norawit Lalaeng to notify the Attorney General of her absence. Norawit said the arraignment at this stage concerns only the attorney general and the court so her client does not need to show up. He said her client would report to the court when it accepts the case. The lawyer said Yingluck was ready to defend herself at the court, noting also that her lawyer team would request the court for addition witnesses. "Yingluck says she is not concerned because the lawyers' team has prepared all documents”, he said. Regarding the request by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for the Finance Ministry to file damage suit against former premier, demanding over 600 billion baht from her in compensation for losses from the rice-pledging scheme, Norawit said the lawyers' team has yet to discuss the issue but it is likely that it will file an objection letter with the Ministry of Finance next week. (TNA)