Former Thai PM Shinawatra faces corruption charges

Bangkok, Jan 23: A criminal case will be filed in Thailand against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra for her involvement in a controversial rice-pledging scheme, the office of the attorney general (OAG) said on Friday.

The OAG said it would press charges against Shinawatra in the Thai Supreme Court's criminal division for holders of political positions, adding that there was sufficient evidence against the former prime minister, Xinhua reported.

If found guilty, Shinawatra would face a prison term of a maximum of 10 years.

The decision was disclosed hours before the National Legislative Assembly (NLA)'s vote to impeach the former premier over the same scheme.

If she is impeached, which will require three-fifths of the NLA members' support, or 132 votes, she would be banned from politics for five years and thus be unable to contest the next general election expected in 2016.

IANS