Ousted Thai PM Yingluck defends herself in court in rice subsidy case

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‍‍By CGTN's Martin Lowe

Ousted Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday during a court hearing in Bangkok proclaimed her innocence of charges that could land her 10 years in jail.

She's accused of negligence in a failed rice subsidy scheme which lost billions of dollars.

Shinawatra told Bangkok’s Supreme Court the scheme was an election pledge which aimed to raise farmers out of poverty.

In reading out a 19-page statement in court, Shinawatra insisted that the rice program was for the interests of farmers nationwide and she had never failed to do her duty as the head of government. She also denied any corruption as alleged by prosecutors.

"I beg for mercy of the (Supreme) Court to lift the lawsuit against me. I beg for the (Supreme) Court to proceed on my case with respect to the facts, laws and truthful witnesses," Shinawatra said.

She said she was the victim of an "intricate political game" which has rendered her a long legal battle in court.

Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra receives roses as she leaves the Supreme Court in Bangkok on August 1, 2017. /AFP Photo

The former prime minister is accused of incurring a whopping 14.7 billion baht (460 million US dollars) in state losses in the rice scheme, according to public prosecutors.

But despite the allegations, she still holds a sizeable support base. Hundreds of people gathered outside the Supreme Court building, crying "fight, fight" in support of the former leader. Shinawatra waved to the crowd, shook hands and received flowers from supporters after giving her final verbal statement.

Hundreds of Shinawatra supporters outside Bangkok’s Supreme Court, Aug. 1, 2017. /CGTN Photo

Last week, the government froze assets belonging to Shinawatra, including 12 bank accounts and dozens of properties in order to claim back money lost from the controversial rice scheme.

Under the rice program introduced in 2011, farmers were paid above market rates for rice, which were stockpiled to drive up global prices before being sold for increased revenue. After her overthrow, prosecutors accused Shinawatra of criminal negligence over the scheme, which temporarily cost Thailand its crown as the world's top rice exporter.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to reach a verdict in the case on August 25.

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