Pheu Thai asks PM to rethink S44

Pheu Thai asks PM to rethink S44

Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra thanks supporters waiting for her arrival at the Supreme Court on Aug 19, 2016 for her trial on the rice scheme. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)
Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra thanks supporters waiting for her arrival at the Supreme Court on Aug 19, 2016 for her trial on the rice scheme. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)

The Pheu Thai Party has requested the regime reconsider its order under Section 44 to seize the assets of those accused of being responsible for losses in the rice-pledging scheme.

The party issued a statement on Friday requesting Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, as chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), to review his order dated Sept 13, 2016, which authorises the seizure, confiscation and auction of properties of those accused of being responsible for the scheme's losses.

They also took issue with an order granting protection to officials involved in filing civil liability lawsuits against the accused.

The party said the government and NCPO chief have clear intentions to implicate former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra in the huge losses the rice scheme incurred without following legal procedures.

The statement says the rice scheme case has been filed with the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders and is awaiting a ruling. It is inappropriate that the government makes conclusions on the culpability of the defendants before the court has announced its ruling, it added.

The rice-pledging scheme was set up by the government to help farmers. In 2013, the government admitted the programme had lost 136 billion baht during the 2011-2012 growing season.

Filing for losses resulting from the rice-pledging scheme is a matter that relates to government policy and cannot be compared with acts of malfeasance such as causing destruction to government property or embezzlement, the defendants say.

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