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Yingluck Shinawatra Pleads Not Guilty to Negligence Over Thai Rice Subsidy Yingluck Shinawatra Pleads Not Guilty to Negligence Over Thai Rice Subsidy
(about 2 hours later)
HONG KONG — Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of criminal negligence over a plan to prop up rice prices, which her political opponents called a corrupt bid to buy support from the country’s farmers. HONG KONG — Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charges of criminal negligence over a plan to prop up rice prices, which her political opponents called a corrupt bid to buy support from the country’s farmers.
“I am confident in my innocence,” she told reporters before the hearing.“I am confident in my innocence,” she told reporters before the hearing.
The Thai Supreme Court approved bail for Ms. Yingluck, who faces up to 10 years in prison. The trial is expected to take up to a year, during which she is banned from leaving the country. The Thai Supreme Court approved bail for Ms. Yingluck, who faces up to 10 years in prison. The trial is expected to take up to a year, during which she is barred from leaving the country.
Ms. Yingluck was removed from office in a coup one year ago and retroactively impeached in January by the military junta that replaced her. The impeachment means she is banned from politics for five years. Ms. Yingluck was removed from office in a coup one year ago and retroactively impeached in January by the military junta that replaced her. The impeachment means she is barred from politics for five years.
She and her allies, including her brother, the former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, have won every election since 2001, but they have faced fierce opposition from the political elites in Bangkok. Mr. Thaksin now lives abroad to avoid imprisonment in Thailand on corruption charges. She and her allies, including her brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, have won every election since 2001, but they have faced fierce opposition from the political elites in Bangkok. Mr. Thaksin now lives abroad to avoid imprisonment in Thailand on corruption charges.
The rice subsidies, a key policy of Ms. Yingluck during her three years in office, involved spending billions to buy the crop at high premiums over market rates. The effort angered the opposition, which called it a waste of public funds, and fueled street protests against her. The rice subsidies, a key policy of Ms. Yingluck’s during her three years in office, involved spending billions to buy the crop at high premiums over market rates. The effort angered the opposition, which called it a waste of public funds, and fueled street protests against her.
She has called the program an important effort to support the country’s poor.She has called the program an important effort to support the country’s poor.