Battle tipped over damages sought for rice scheme
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DEPUTY PRIME Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has declined to confirm the authorities will seek Bt500 billion in damages from former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and a handful of top officials over her government's rice-pledging scheme.
The case could be fought in court for some time before the amount could be settled, he said.
The deputy PM has assigned two fact-finding panels to determine any civil liability incurred by Yingluck and her former ministers including ex-commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom.
The panels are scheduled to submit their results by the end of the month for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to review.
The case is expected to go through the Administrative Court if Yingluck counter-sues the government.
It is the third action carried out against Yingluck and the ex-ministers. The first resulted in her impeachment and the second involves a criminal lawsuit now before the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Officer Holders.
Wissanu said in principle a plaintiff lodges an inflated damages claim because if the amount sought was lower than the real damages awarded, the plaintiff could not seek the shortfall.
He said the judiciary was the party which would give fairness to everyone involved and the real amount to be paid in this case would eventually be determined.
Yingluck could fight against the government’s authority to charge her and she could fight the damages claim, which could result in a lengthy process, he said.
