Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is being accused of abusing power by using public funds to campaign for the general election in February this year, local media reported on July 28.
Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) has alleged that Yingluck, along with eight other cabinet ministers and the national police chief at that time, violated the already-abrogated 2007 Constitution by making lobby trips across the country using public funds, according to the Bangkok Post.
A senior EC official said the trips were made while Yingluck and her cabinet were in a caretaking status following the dissolution of the House of Representatives on December 9, 2013, thus violated Section 181 of the 2007 Constitution, which stipulated that the outgoing cabinet shall refrain from using resources or personnel of State to conduct an act which may affect the result of a general election.
All involved in the case will be summoned to defend themselves before the EC's investigation panel, pending further action, the source added.
If found guilty, those involved could face up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of 200,000 THB (about 6,200 USD).
This is a fresh allegation against Yingluck following the case in which the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has accused her of negligence of duty in overseeing a controversial rice-pledging scheme.
The NACC has forwarded the case to the Office of the Attorney-General for indictment. If found guilty, Yingluck could face a jail term as well as a five-year ban from politics.-VNA
Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) has alleged that Yingluck, along with eight other cabinet ministers and the national police chief at that time, violated the already-abrogated 2007 Constitution by making lobby trips across the country using public funds, according to the Bangkok Post.
A senior EC official said the trips were made while Yingluck and her cabinet were in a caretaking status following the dissolution of the House of Representatives on December 9, 2013, thus violated Section 181 of the 2007 Constitution, which stipulated that the outgoing cabinet shall refrain from using resources or personnel of State to conduct an act which may affect the result of a general election.
All involved in the case will be summoned to defend themselves before the EC's investigation panel, pending further action, the source added.
If found guilty, those involved could face up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of 200,000 THB (about 6,200 USD).
This is a fresh allegation against Yingluck following the case in which the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has accused her of negligence of duty in overseeing a controversial rice-pledging scheme.
The NACC has forwarded the case to the Office of the Attorney-General for indictment. If found guilty, Yingluck could face a jail term as well as a five-year ban from politics.-VNA
