Yingluck urges govt to drop administrative order for damages

Yingluck said the authorities should instead seek damages through a civil court to ensure fairness in line with international standards.

An administrative order has been considered for the ex-prime minister to pay Bt35 billion in compensation to cover 20 per cent of the estimated “losses” from the allegedly corruption-plagued programme.

“I would like the government to base its decision on facts and logic. To use an administrative order is like making a judgement on your own. In fact, this case should go to a civil court,” Yingluck told reporters.

“I have not received any administrative order and I still hope the government will not use an administrative order against me.”

She was speaking at the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders, where she attended the fourth hearing of defence witnesses in a case of negligence against her stemming from the troubled subsidy programme.

Yingluck arrived at the court to loud cheers from her supporters gathered outside. They gave her flowers and shouted: “Keep fighting, PM Pu. We love you.” Pu is her nickname.

She was accompanied to the court by her lawyers and key figures from her Pheu Thai Party.

Yingluck said she had instructed her lawyers to study the Supreme Court verdict on Wednesday that acquitted former Bank of Thailand governor Rerngchai Marakanond, in order to compare it to her case.

She said that according to the court’s verdict, Rerngchai had made decisions in line with his duties and it was possible for financial damages to occur. 

She added that government policies should not be assessed in terms of profit or loss.

The ex-PM also noted that she had appealed to a number of state agencies seeking fairness in the legal proceedings against her but she had not received any responses.

Yingluck’s lawyer Noppadon Laothong, who had represented Rerngchai, said on Thursday that instead of “taking a shortcut” by seeking civil damages against the former prime minister, the government should take the case to the Civil Court as was done in Rerngchai’s case. 

“Yingluck should not be held responsible for damages resulting from policy decisions,” he said.

Norawit Langla, another lawyer for Yingluck, said yesterday that the court verdict in Rerngchai’s case could be used as a precedent for similar cases in the future, including Yingluck’s.