The National Anti-Corruption Commission is considering indicting former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra over the rice-pledging scheme if public prosecutors turn down the case, member Vicha Mahakun said Tuesday.
Mr Vicha said the fate of the former premier will be decided by Nov 7. The delay was due to a joint investigation between with the Office of the Attorney-General.
The NACC had sent the case demanding the OAG to press charges against her for dereliction of duty for failing to stop corruption and losses in her government's rice-pledging scheme. But state prosecutors argued that the case was not complete. They set up a panel to jointly re-investigate the case on Aug 4 and had 14 days to complete the probe.
As the results did not come before the deadline, Mr Vicha said the NACC had no desire to prolong the case and will move on its own.
''The NACC is allowed by law to indict, but we don't want to. The process to take cases to court should be undertaken by state prosecutors,'' he said.
''We will know what happens on Nov 7. Please follow it closely,'' he added.
Ms Yingluck faces impeachment in the National Legislative Assembly over the issue. Her lawyers have staunchly denied wrongdoing.
Ms Yingluck chaired the National Rice Policy Committee when she was prime minister. The panel oversees the rice scheme.