Yingluck pleads innocent to dereliction of duty charges

The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Office prohibited the former prime minister from leaving the kingdom after it released her pending trial. 

Public prosecutors charged her with violating Article 157 of the Criminal Code and the corruption suppression act by committing nonfeasance and malfeasance while holding the post of prime minister for failing to stop alleged massive corruption in the rice pledging scheme. Her alleged inaction allegedly caused Bt500 billion worth of damage to the state, the court was told.

Yingluck arrived at the Supreme Court at 8:40am for the plea entering session. She was accompanied by her team of lawyers and former deputy commerce minister Nattawut Saikaur, former deputy prime minister Plodpasop Suraswadi and former Pheu Thai MPs Korkaew Pikulthong and Prompong Nopparit.

The area in front of the court was crowded with her supporters. About 500 policemen, including plainclothes officers, were deployed to keep order.

Supreme Court Vice President Weerapol Tunsuwan, the judge advocate for the case, and eight other judges chaired the bench.

The presiding judge read the charge against her and asked how Yingluck would plead. With her face showing no emotion, Yingluck pleaded innocence.

She asked the court’s permission to submit her written defence by July 3.

The public prosecutors then told the court that they would produce 13 witnesses while Yingluck’s lawyers said they would produce at least 20 witnesses.

The court allowed Yingluck to submit her written defence by July 3 and scheduled July 21 and 28 for both sides to check lists of evidence and witnesses.

The court did not approve Yingluck’s request to try the case in absentia, saying she must attend all sessions unless she could come up with convincing reasons not to attend a particular session.

The court also told Yingluck not to leave the kingdom unless she has received permission from the court.