Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (Photo: VNA)Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s Supreme Court on September 27 imposed a five-year imprisonment on former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra over charges of negligence in a rice subsidy scheme.
Yingluck did not show up at the court. Earlier, she failed to appear for her verdict on August 25.
Thai police on September 5 publicised evidence showing that Yingluck had fled the country.
Thailand’s authorities later issued an arrest warrant for the former Prime Minister.
Yingluck was accused by the Constitutional Court of Thailand for constitutional violations and abuse of power in May 2014.
In January 2015, the National Legislative Assembly of Thailand charged Yingluck of negligence in managing the rice subsidy programme.
The rice subsidy plan was a flagship election policy that helped Yingluck sweep to power in 2011. The scheme paid farmers double market price for their rice and store at the government’s stockpiles across the country.-VNA
