Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had left the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the United Kingdom. (Photo: Reuters) Hanoi (VNA) – Thai police announced on October 3 that fugitive former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had left the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the United Kingdom.
Deputy National Police Commissioner General Pol. Gen. Srivara Ransibrahmanakul quoted a “reliable source” in the UAE, saying that Yingluck had left Dubai for London.
He said that public prosecutors would dutifully coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to call for the British authorities to extradite the former leader to Thailand to serve a five-year jail term. Both sides already reached a criminal extradition agreement.
According to a new legislation on criminal lawsuits against politicians, Yingluck stands no chance to appeal against her five-year jail sentence. The new law, which takes effect from September 29, also ends her political career, said Meechai Ruchupan, head of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).
Yingluck failed to appear for her verdict on August 25, prompting the Supreme Court to issue an arrest warrant.
She was accused of abusing power in May, 2014. Her dereliction of the rice subsidy scheme supervision led to severe loss to the country. If found guilty, she will be subject to a jail term of 10 years and face the seizure of assets worth 35 billion baht (nearly 1 billion USD) over the loss.
The rice scheme was a flagship policy of Yingluck’s election campaign with the Pheu Thai party, which helped her win the 2011 general election. The scheme offered to buy rice from farmers at a double of market price then keep in store houses nationwide.-VNA
VNA
