Thailand anti-graft commission to have ex-PM Yingluck arraigned over rice-pledging scheme

Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra smiles as she arrives to address reporters in Bangkok in this May 7, 2014 file photo. Thailand's military rulers have given permission to Ms Yingluck to leave the country on a private trip on condition sh
Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra smiles as she arrives to address reporters in Bangkok in this May 7, 2014 file photo. Thailand's military rulers have given permission to Ms Yingluck to leave the country on a private trip on condition she does not get involved in politics, officers said on July 17, 2014. The military overthrew Ms Yingluck's government on May 22, days after she was forced from office by a court ruling for abuse of power. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

BANGKOK (The Nation/Asia News Network) - Thailand's National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on Thursday resolved to ask the Attorney-General to arraign former premier Yingluck Shinawatra on charges of dereliction of duty on rice-pledging scheme and caused damage of 500 billion baht to the country.

The NACC will forward the case to the Attorney-General next week, who will charge Ms Yingluck in Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Position.

The move came after the National Council for Peace and Order approved Ms Yingluck's request to leave the kingdom on Sunday for a 20-day trip to Europe,

The junta's deputy spokesman, Colonel Winthai Suvari, said on Thursday that the junta had seen that Ms Yingluck had never acted in a way that violated or defied the conditions and orders of the junta, which prohibit her from making any political moves and from leaving the kingdom. He added that Ms Yingluck had fully cooperated with the junta.

As a result, the junta's working committee in charge of considering the request had given her the green light to travel to Europe, Col Winthai said.

Ms Yingluck will travel with her son Supasek Amornchat.

Col Winthai added that the orders of the junta were not aimed at restricting the rights of any person.

It is expected that Ms Yingluck will visit her brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is scheduled to celebrate his birthday anniversary in Paris on July 26.

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