Yingluck Shinawatra denied retrial in 10-billion-baht rice scheme case

Thailand’s Supreme Administrative Court has denied a request for a retrial filed by former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra regarding a massive compensation order linked to the country’s rice-pledging scheme. The ruling upholds a previous decision requiring Yingluck and her husband to pay over 10 billion baht in damages to the state.

The compensation stems from the Ministry of Finance’s order for Yingluck to take responsibility for financial losses caused by corruption and mismanagement within the rice subsidy program implemented during her administration. The court ruled that the new evidence presented by Yingluck’s legal team—specifically a letter from the Ministry of Commerce—did not constitute valid new evidence capable of overturning the original verdict. The court noted that the document was merely a response to a consultation regarding administrative enforcement measures rather than new facts that would change the essence of the case.

This decision leaves the significant financial liability firmly in place. The rice-pledging program, intended to boost rural incomes, became embroiled in controversy due to fraudulent farmer certifications and irregular government-to-government rice sales, leading to substantial losses to the national budget.