BANGKOK, Jan 23 — The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) on Friday opted to indict Thailand's former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra on criminal corruption charges, accusing her of dereliction of duty for failing to stop her government-sponsored rice-pledging scheme which was shown to have caused massive losses to the state of more than Bt500 billion.
Surasak Threerattrakul, director general of the OAG Department of Investigation, told a press conference that Attorney-General Trakul Winitnaiyapak belived that the anency should file criminal charges against her.
Mr Surasak said a combined panel of OAG and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on Tuesday considered the evidence and agreed unanimously that it was sufficient to file charges against Ms Yingluck in the Supreme Court for Holders of Political Positions under the Criminal Code 157 and the 1999 Constitution concerning corruption prevention.
It is believed that charges could be filed to the Court as soon as within one month or in March, said Mr Surasak, adding that it is unnecessary to bring Ms Yingluck to the Court in person on that day as the prosecutor could file the charges independently.
Whether Ms Yingluck could receive bailed or travel abroad after the charges are filed is up to the discretion of the Court, he said.
Mr Surasak emphasized that the OAG decision to file criminal charges against Ms Yingluck is not related to members of the National Legislative Assembly voting on impeaching her today on the rice-pledging scheme.
Norawit Lalaeng, Ms Yingluck's lawyer, submitted a letter to the OAG, asking for justice just before the press conference began.
The letter said the OAG should wait before taking legal action against her because the OAG had not completely studied the investigation, especially certain points on which the ex-prime minister had sought justice. (MCOT online news)
