Yingluck sees no interference in justice system; investigation goes ahead
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Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday that she believed there was no interference in the justice system in relation to the decision to not immediately prosecute her over her government's loss-making rice-pledging scheme.
Yingluck was referring to the Office of the Attorney-General’s decision to not prosecute her due to insufficient evidence, even though the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has been pushing for her to be indicted for dereliction of duty as she failed to stop corruption and massive losses due to the scheme.
However, the attorney-general’s office decided to set up a joint committee with the NACC to further investigate the case.
“I believe the justice system will ensure freedom and fairness for everyone and will work solely in line with the law and not be affected by anyone. I also believe that no ‘special power’ will intervene with the justice system’s process,” she said, before boarding a flight to Udon Thani to preside over the funeral of a former Pheu Thai MP.
Yingluck said her lawyer would represent her in court, adding that she was confident in her innocence. She also warned her supporters against creating sentiment that might end up misleading officials in the justice system.
She added that Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha was capable of running the country, and that he would go ahead with his roadmap, though it might take him longer to complete all the work.
Meanwhile some rice millers have refused to cooperate with the investigation, causing a delay in the checking of rice stocks, PM’s Office Minister ML Panadda Diskul said.
Panadda, who also serves as permanent-secretary of the ministry, said some millers refused to arrange their sacks of rice in a way that can allow officials to easily count and check them.
He said officials needed to know how many sacks were being stored, because rice millers misled them by arranging sacks in tall piles but leaving the middle section empty.
“Their refusal to cooperate implies something,’’ he said, adding that the September 15 deadline for completing all the tests needed in the investigation might have to be postponed.
Panadda, meanwhile, refused to identify the millers, saying he did not want to politicise the issue, as it would only widen national conflicts.
“We have struggled with conflicts on many issues and at many levels, and that is why our country has been stuck. We must do everything to ensure the country can move forward,’’ he said.
NACC secretary-general Sansern Poljiak said the watchdog would meet today to appoint 10 members of the joint committee. He added that it would appoint people who are comparable in seniority with the officials appointed by the Office of the Attorney-General.
Democrat Party deputy spokesman Ramet Rattanachaweng said even if the attorney-general eventually decided not to prosecute Yingluck, then the NACC could take the case to court.
Meanwhile, former Democrat MP for Pitsanulok Dr Warong Dechgitvigrom hit back at Pheu Thai member Panas Thassaniyanont for accusing the NACC of having double standards, saying it has been speedy in the prosecution of Yingluck but has been stalling probe into the rice-subsidy programme run by the Democrat-led government.
He challenged Panas to name any corrupt Democrat politician linked to the scheme, questioning why Pheu Thai had not launched a no-confidence debate over the scheme while Abhisit Vejjajiva was in power.
