By Naewna, Matichon and Reuters published by CNA
THE Supreme Court cleared former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra of negligence in a roadshow project to promote infrastructure projects dismissing all the charges against her and five other defendants, Naewna and Matichon newspapers said this afternoon (Mar. 4).
The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions voted 9-0 to dismiss charges of neglecting to perform their duties and dishonestly using their power and position in the 239.7-million-baht roadshow project to promote 2-trillion baht infrastructure projects as filed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) against Yingluck, former deputy prime minister Mr. Niwatthamrong Bunsongpaisan, former secretary-general to the prime minister Mr. Suranan Vejjajiva, Matichon Plc, Siam Sport Syndicate Plc and Mr. Rawi Lothong.
In dismissing the charges the Supreme Court said it had not been found that there was any intention to benefit from this project and ordered that the arrest warrant against Yingluck in this case be lifted.
Yingluck, a prominent member of the influential Shinawatra family, has been living overseas for the past six years to avoid jail for a previous conviction for negligence handed down after her government’s ousting in a 2014 military coup, Reuters said in a report published by CNA.
The court’s unanimous decision is the latest favourable outcome for the dominant Shinawatra family, whose party Pheu Thai is currently in government. Its billionaire figurehead, Thaksin Shinawatra, was recently released from detention on parole on a commuted sentence.
Yingluck is sister of former premier Thaksin, who was recently freed six months into an eight-year jail sentence that was commuted to a year and was served in hospital detention.
Monday’s case stemmed from a 2022 complaint from the National Anti-Corruption Commission against Yingluck and five others, accusing them of damaging the country by not following bidding processes in the awarding of a government contract worth 239.7-million-baht.
Lawyer Noppadon Laothong told Reuters that the court dropped the case against Yingluck and others because they were carrying out their duties in accordance with the law and received no benefits.
Yingluck had been convicted in absentia previously for negligence and sentenced to five years in prison over a government rice pledging scheme that cost billions of dollars of losses to the state.
Her brother Thaksin made a dramatic return to Thailand in August after spending 17 years abroad to escape jail for abuse of power and corruption.
His return and favourable detention has sparked widespread speculation that the powerful tycoon has made a secret political deal with his longtime enemies in Thailand’s military and conservative establishment.
The Shinawatra family’s allies have denied that.
CAPTION:
Top: Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Photo: Thai Rath
Front Page: Ousted former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra greets supporters as she arrives at the Supreme Court on July 21, 2017. File photo: Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha and published by CNA
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