Yingluck wants to give verbal closing statement in trial on rice-pledge case

She is charged with negligence for failing to prevent irregularities in the project, which was estimated to cause losses amounting to Bt500 billion to state coffers.
“I wish I could make the closing statement myself,” Yingluck said, adding that she would first consult with her lawyers.
“I’m confident in my evidence presented to the court that I’m innocent and not negligent,” she said. 
The ex-premier, 50, was speaking when she arrived at the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders.
Yesterday’s hearing was the second last, with the final session scheduled for July 21. 
After the final hearing, the court will allow the prosecution and the defence to make their closing statements, which can be delivered in written or verbal form. 
Closing statements will be heard within 30 days of the final hearing, according to court officials.
At yesterday’s hearing, the defence team introduced four additional witnesses. They were former deputy prime minister and former commerce minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan, former deputy premier Plodprasop Suraswadee, former Nakhon Nayok governor Surachai Srisarakham, and former National Security Council secretary-general Paradon Pattanathabut.
Yingluck said yesterday that Niwatthamrong started the rice-pledging scheme during her government’s tenure, so he could provide “the big picture of the project” to the court.
Niwatthamrong, as a defence witness, told the court yesterday that Yingluck should not be held responsible alone for the irregularities, as there were also other Cabinet members and members of the National Rice Policy Committee working over the rice-pledging scheme.
He said that while serving as prime minister, Yingluck had ordered the Commerce Ministry to investigate warnings of possible irregularities but that no wrongdoings were found at the time.
Yingluck told crowds outside the court that she was confident in the witnesses they had presented.
The ex-PM also said that she was in good spirits and pleaded for the junta not to view her supporters as political. They were only displaying love and care for her, she said.
“The encouragement I've been given is still good. This is a strong characteristic of the Thai people,” she said.
Every time Yingluck has attended court, a large number of supporters turned out to offer encouragement to her. Security authorities earlier said they would employ more military officers in addition to police to help keep order at the final hearing on July 21.
About 500 of Yingluck supporters showed up outside the court yesterday, the largest turnout in many months.