Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has defended the regime's decision to issue an administrative order requiring ex-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to pay 35.7 billion baht in compensation over her alleged malfeasance in her rice-pledging scheme.
He said he consulted with legal advisers, including those who drafted the 1996 Tort Liability by Officer Act, under which the order was issued, and they insisted his government's approach does not violate the spirit of the law.
"This is what has to be done. The legal officers confirmed this is not a violation of the law's spirit. If you want to give explanations, just do so in court. Do not explain this through the media. I will not argue about it any more," said Gen Prayut.
The premier's remarks came after Phumtham Wechayachai, the Pheu Thai Party's acting secretary-general, earlier said the order was not justified and the move was carried out in a rush despite some legal disputes.
Mr Phumtham said it was unclear whether Ms Yingluck could be held accountable under the civil liability law. He said the law was introduced to protect state officials against liability unless they were found to either have deliberately violated the laws or were grossly negligent in their duties.
He insisted the rice-pledging scheme was the Yingluck administration's flagship policy outlined before the House of Representatives under the charter, adding the actions against Ms Yingluck indicated selective use of laws, undermined the rule of law and destroyed democracy.
Gen Prayut asserted it was his duty to introduce the case to the judicial process, saying: "I want you to hear what the outcome will be. I do not want you to create conflicts on all the issues."
Responding to a lawyer of Ms Yingluck's who said he would petition against the order at the Administrative Court next month, Gen Prayut said it is Ms Yingluck's right to do so.
If the court throws out the petition, Ms Yingluck can still ask the court to impose a lighter burden of compensation, in line with the judicial process, the prime minister said.
He said he was the one who entered the case into the judicial process and had not suggested if the case was right or wrong.
Meanwhile, authorities are pursuing the officials who will be held accountable for the other 80% of losses after the order demanded Ms Yingluck pay 20%, or 35.7 billion baht. Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the officials who will be liable for 80% of the losses have not yet been identified.
The Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) is looking into more than 900 cases in connection with alleged malfeasance in government-to-government rice deals and pledged rice storage. These aspects of the scheme have also led to losses.
The statute of limitations for the cases would begin after the PACC formally releases the accusations against the officials with their respective agencies, Mr Wissanu said.