Ousted Thai PM Yingluck in court for rice-pledging case trial

BANGKOK, Nov 19 (TNA) -- Thailand’s formal prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra attended the 7th court hearing of defence witnesses in the rice-pledging scheme corruption case. Ms Yingluck greeted her supported as she arrived at the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions Friday morning. She is accused of dereliction of duty causing massive loss in the controversial program. Ms Yingluck who faces liability to pay Bt35.7 billion said she would fight in every way possible to fight the allegation. Her lawyers have sent an appeal letter against an administrative order to pay the compensation. The government has said it seeks 20 percent of the total loss from Ms Yingluck while the rest from about 6,000 officials accountable for the corruption-plagued populist program. The scheme, which ran from 2012-2014 , incurred losses of Bt178 billion. (TNA)