Civil lawsuits against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and others to seek compensation for her government’s loss-ridden rice-pledging programme will be filed before the statute of limitations expires, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam confirmed Thursday.
Mr Wissanu told the National Legislative Assembly today that civil lawsuits against Ms Yingluck and other government officials could be filed late this year or in early 2016 at the latest, far before the statute of limitations expired in February 2017.
Two government committees are handling the process. One is fact-finding while the other is tasked with identifying those liable for compensation and setting the compensation amount, he said.
Apart from Ms Yingluck, six government officials were possible targets for compensation demands, Mr Wissanu said.
Civil lawsuits against private companies held liable in the rice scheme would need to be filed within one year, Mr Wissanu said. But the process against them can move faster because inquiry committees don't need to be established, he said.
The state's losses in the rice-pledging scheme during Ms Yingluck's tenure from 2011-2014 were estimated at more than 530 billion baht. Her government bought rice from farmers at above-market prices that impeded resale. The government also had problems with quality rice storage.