Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra acquitted

Ms Yingluck has lived abroad for the past six years to avoid jail on charges of dereliction of duty brought after her government was ousted in a 2014 coup.

The above information was revealed by Ms. Yingluck's lawyer and Thai media. There has been no official confirmation from the court.

According to a 2022 complaint filed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission against Ms. Yingluck and four others, the five individuals were accused of causing damage to the country by failing to follow the bidding process in awarding a government contract worth 250 million baht (172.6 billion VND).

Yingluck Shinawatra arrives at the Supreme Court in Bangkok in 2017.

Lawyer Noppadon Laothong told Reuters the court dismissed the case against Yingluck and the others because they were performing their duties according to the law and did not receive any benefits.

Previously, Ms. Yingluck was convicted in absentia for negligence and sentenced to five years in prison for the government's rice-pledging program that caused billions of dollars in losses to the country.

The court’s decision is the latest favorable outcome for the powerful Shinawatra family and the Pheu Thai Party. Previously, Thaksin Shinawatra, former Thai Prime Minister and Yingluck’s brother, was pardoned from an eight-year prison sentence and released after six months in detention.

Mr. Thaksin returned to Thailand in August 2023, after 15 years living abroad to escape a prison sentence for abuse of power and corruption.

His return has sparked widespread speculation that he has struck a secret political deal with political opponents in Thailand.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/cuu-thu-tuong-thai-lan-yingluck-shinawatra-duoc-tuyen-trang-an-185240304141509193.htm