The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is to recommend the Finance Ministry lodge a civil suit demanding compensation from former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra over negligence in her government's rice-pledging scheme.
The issue will be tabled for endorsement at an NACC meeting on Tuesday. The recommendation is expected to be forwarded to the ministry on the same day, according to Panthep Klanarongran, president of the anti-graft agency.
The move comes after the NACC earlier advised the ministry to proceed with a civil lawsuit against 21 individuals and companies involved in allegedly corrupt government-to-government rice deals. They include former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, his deputy Poom Sarapol, 19 other high-level officials, private sector executives, and two companies.
The NACC has already filed a lawsuit with the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG), accusing Ms Yingluck of dereliction of duty for failing to stop losses and corruption in the rice programme. Ms Yingluck is due to report to the OAG on Thursday.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha revealed yesterday that he had warned the former premier about issues surrounding her government's rice-pledging scheme before the May 22 military coup.
"I asked her what she would do when the problems surfaced. She said there was nothing to be concerned about since she intended to do her duty," Gen Prayut said. "She said she would solve the problems, since she was the administrator and ready to take responsibility, so she should have been prepared to do so."
He also brushed aside suspicions that the regime had always planned to have Ms Yingluck prosecuted. There was no such plan, Gen Prayut said: "I have repeated it hundreds of times."
Red-shirt co-leader Korkaew Pikulthong said yesterday he was convinced that Ms Yingluck would not flee overseas to escape prosecution. He insisted she is not guilty since her government carried out the rice-pledging scheme in line with pre-election promises. The scheme was aimed at helping people, and policies seeking to help farmers always face losses, Mr Korkaew said.