Bangkok, December 27 (AseanAll) — The Thai Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders has delivered a verdict in the case against Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, former Prime Minister of Thailand.
According to National News Bureau of Thailand（NNT），Yingluck Shinawatra was accused of misconduct and abuse of power concerning the transfer of Mr. Thawil Pliensri, the former secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC).
On December 20, 2023, the judicial panel, which took about an hour to read the verdict, ruled by a majority decision to dismiss the case and revoke the arrest warrant for Ms. Yingluck.
After thorough examination and discretion, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division concluded that Ms. Yingluck’s exercise of her appointment and transfer powers did not indicate any special intent to cause harm to Mr. Thawil.
Moreover, the appointment and transfer were conducted according to regulations, a practice previously observed in similar situations. The investigation also revealed no evidence of conspiracy in the transfer of Mr. Thawil.
Despite the process being completed in just four days, it was executed promptly for submission to the Cabinet for approval, deemed normal and without any indication of corruption in office duties.
According to Thai Newsroom, Yingluck who had allegedly pushed for the naming of the Pheu Thai-backed Srettha Thavisin as prime minister following last May’s election has been residing in self-exile abroad following the 2014 coup orchestrated by army chief-turned-prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
She is a younger sister of de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict at large Thaksin Shinawatra who returned from 17 years of self-exile abroad in August, 2023 and has been staying at Police Hospital for secrecy-shrouded “illnesses” since.
Thaksin has been earlier convicted by court of a few counts of misconduct perpetrated during his previous premiership and originally sentenced in absentia to an eight-year jail term which was curtailed by royal pardon to only one year.
Given legal loopholes and alleged privileges, the de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict at large would likely be transferred from the hospital to some living quarters in “house arrest” fashion before he is released on parole around the upcoming February.
Srettha, known as personally associated with Yingluck, has remained tightlipped amidst allegations that he might probably look for ways and means to help her follow suit of her brother’s homecoming style.
She has been earlier convicted by court of misconduct pertaining to a previous Pheu Thai-led government’s rice subsidy scandals and sentenced in absentia to five years in jail.
