Criminal Charges Level Against Former Prime Minister

According to Sky news, the former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is to be put on trial in connection with a rice subsidy programme that lost the country billions of dollars.
The charge against the country's first female prime minister concerns her role in a scheme that paid farmers far above market prices for rice. It also cost Thailand its place as the world's leading exporter.

If found guilty, she could face up to 10 years in prison. Her successful impeachment by parliament has already seen her banned from politics for five years.

The former PM was removed from office last May days before a military coup, amid allegations of abuse of power.

She later issued a statement on Facebook saying: "Democracy has died in Thailand today, along with the rule of law. That move to destroy me is still ongoing and I face it now."

The commission in July recommended criminal charges be filed against Ms Yingluck for the subsidy programme, which paid the farmers double the market price for rice.

The programme was a flagship electioneering policy, with Ms Yingluck saying the scheme would directly benefit Thai farmers and reduce the income equality gap in the country.

She won a landslide electoral victory in 2011 backed by the rural poor who benefited from the rice scheme.