Hears TDRI president slam rice scheme as trial begins Print and online reporters
Ousted prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra came to the Supreme Court on friday for the first hearing of a trial " l am confident. We will do our best today," Ms Yingluck said to a crowd of supporters. Chanat katanyu
Ms Yingluck arrived at the court at the government complex in bangkok at 8.30 am. She was greeted by a crowd of supporters, some of her cabinet ministers and Pheu Thai Party members, including former minister of finance kittratt na-ranong, ex-deputy commerce minister Nattawut Saikuar and former science and technology minister Vorawat Ua-apinyakul.
"I am confident. We will do our best today," ms yingluck said to the crowd, who cheered the former premier and urged her to fight.
Ms yinglck is accused of malfeasance under section 157 of the criminal code and section 123/1 of the 1999 anti-corruption act.
She is accused of failing to stop the rice scheme which caused 500 billion baht in damages to the country. If she is found guilty, she could face up to 10 years in jail.
At the trial yesterday, the former president of the thailand research and Development Institute accused the ousted prime minister's rice-pledging scheme of failing to achieve it's purpose of helping small-scale farmers.
Nipon Poapongsakorn, a prosecution witness, was speaking before nine judges of the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Position-Holders.
He said rice-pledging schemes have been carried out in the country for 30 years.
In the past,the pledging prices were lower than the market prices. The programmes were organised to help small-scale and poor farmers and quotas were set for pledged rice.
During the Thaksin Shinawatra administration between 2005 and 2006, the rice-pledging programme was adjusted with the pledging prices set above the market rate,but without quotas.
Ms yingluck's government followed on with the purchase of rice at above market prices without quotas,Mr nipon said.
The programme was organised to buy every grain,which suggests the government would buy rice without any conditions, he said, adding this was at odds with the scheme's purpose which aims to help small-scale growers. The government set a steep price for pledged rice, which slso violated the world trade organisation accord, he said.
He insisted the TDRI is not the foe of any government. The TDRI's research is aimed at enhancing the country's development and farmers' quality of life, he said.
Noppadon Thipayawan, a journalist, was next to take the stand, with his collection of news reports on the programme.
Prajuck boonyoung, deputy auditor-general, was set to follow, with a focus on the letters sent to Ms Yingluck by the auditor-general to warn her about the extent of the damages and the auditor-general's opinions on the programme.
Jirachai Moontongroy, a deputy petmanent secretary to the prime Minister's office, was then to testify on the damages caused by the programme.
The court agreed to hear a total of 14 witnesses presented by public prosecutors, starting on friday. The next hearings for the prosecution witnesses are slated for Feb 17 and 26 and March 4 and 23.
Ms Yingluck's legal team called 43 witnesses in her defence including herself, scheduled to be heard on Feb 17 and 26 and March 4 and 23.