<p>The Supreme Court has sentenced a former Commerce Minister in the Yingluck government to 42 years in prison for corruption over rice export deals.</p>
<p>On 25 August 2017, the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions sentenced Boonsong Teriyapirom, a Commerce Minister in the Yingluck administration, to 42 years in prison while Poom Sarapol, his former deputy, received 36 years.</p>
<p>Thai Immigration Police deny all knowledge about the former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra fleeing abroad.</p>
<p>On 25 August 2017, Pol Lt Gen Nathathorn Prousoonthorn, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, told the media that there has been no report that Yingluck has fled the country.</p>
<p>“[I] confirm that there has been no report that Yingluck travelled to Singapore or to neighbouring Cambodia,” <a href="http://www.bbc.com/thai/live/thailand-41025556?ocid=socialflow_facebook">BBC Thai</a> quoted him as saying.</p>
<p>On 25 August 2017, the Supreme Court issued an arrest warrant for Yingluck Shinawatra after she failed to turn up for the verdict on her malfeasance trial related to the rice-pledging scheme.</p>
<p>Much to the surprise of thousands of supporters of the former Prime Minister Yingluck, the court issued an arrest warrant after she requested postponement of the verdict hearing to 27 September 2017, citing health problems.</p>
<p>As her lawyer did not provide a medical certificate, the court ordered her arrest and confiscated 30 million baht of bail money.</p>
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<div>Conceding to pressure from the authorities, the former Prime Minister has warned her supporters against coming to court tomorrow when her verdict will be announced, fearing the risk of violence by a ‘third party’.</div>
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<div>On 24 August 2017, former PM Yingluck Shinawatra posted on her Facebook page that her supporters should stay at home when the verdict on the Rice Pledging Scheme case is read in order to avoid possible violence as the security forces have repeatedly warned. </div>
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<div>“I recognize the concern and kindness of the people who aw
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<p dir="ltr">On 25 August 2017, the Supreme Court will deliver its verdict on the historic case of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who stands accused of causing billions of baht in losses through her administration’s controversial rice-pledging scheme (RPS). Prachatai has gathered 10 important facts about the historic case, which will set a standard for future public policy and almost certainly deepen political divisions regardless of the outcome.</p>
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<p>The Supreme Court has once again prohibited Yingluck Shinawatra, the former elected Prime Minister from the Pheu Thai Party, from travelling abroad.</p>
<p>According <a href="http://news.voicetv.co.th/thailand/299601.html">Voice TV</a>, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions has denied a request from Yingluck Shinawatra to travel Japan with Supasek Amornchat, her teenage son, between 15 and 25 December 2015 during his school break.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court has prohibited Yingluck Shinawatra, a former elected Prime Minister from the Pheu Thai Party, from flying to Europe. </p>
<p>According to <a href="http://www.khaosod.co.th/view_newsonline.php?newsid=1449048886">Khaosod News Agency</a>, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on Wednesday, 2 December 2015, denied a request from Yingluck Shinawatra to travel to Europe to share her views on Thai politics.</p>
By Harrison George |
<p>The big issue for the ‘we’re never going away no matter how many deadlines we miss’ PDRC protesters is clearly corruption. This to them is the number one problem facing the nation. It is also the number one failing of the Thaksin clan of cronies and clones, and the reason why the kingdom must be rid them.</p>
<p>Now it may come as a horrible shock to anyone who has followed Thai politics for the last 20 years, but Thaksin has not been convicted on a criminal charge of corruption. </p>