Political Focus on Shinawatras: Confiscation of Billions in Assets Associated with Two Prime Ministers
Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Faces Asset Seizure in Historic Legal Decision
On May 22, 2025, the Supreme Administrative Court ordered Yingluck Shinawatra, the fourth Thai prime minister to have assets seized by the state, to pay a staggering 10.028 billion baht (approximately USD 275 million) in damages due to her government's controversial rice-pledging scheme.
The court's decision follows a finding of gross negligence by Yingluck in overseeing government-to-government (G2G) rice export deals within the program. These deals resulted in approximately 20 billion baht in damages, for which Yingluck has been ordered to compensate 50%.
In its verdict, the court overturned an earlier ruling by a lower court, deeming the original order which required Yingluck to pay for losses totalling over 170 billion baht during the 2012/13 and 2013/14 rice seasons, unlawful. However, the court recognized her negligence in the matter.
The Ministry of Finance is now obligated to inform Yingluck to settle the amount. If she fails to pay within the stipulated timeframe, the case may be returned to the Administrative Court for enforcement, potentially leading to asset seizure as a last resort.
Yingluck's legal trouble places her in the company of three other Thai prime ministers who have faced asset confiscation. The first was Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, who had his assets seized posthumously in 1963, followed by Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn in 1974, who lost over 434 million baht in assets under an emergency decree. The most recent case occurred in the wake of the 2006 military coup, which ousted Yingluck's brother Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's 23rd prime minister. Thaksin had assets totalling 46.737 billion baht seized, primarily from suspicious promissory notes and proceeds from the sale of Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings.
In 2025, Yingluck's case marks another blow to the Shinawatra family, whose political influence and financial dealings have long divided Thailand's political landscape. Whether more prime ministers will be added to this list remains to be seen.
Tags:ShinawatrasassetsseizedPrime Ministerrice-pledging
Noteworthy details from the Enrichment Data:- In Thaksin Shinawatra's case, the court ruled to confiscate 46.37 billion baht from proceeds and dividends from the sale of Shin Corp.- Yingluck's legal battle pertains to administrative law and involves civil liability for official misconduct.
- The stunning legal decision on May 22, 2025, saw the Supreme Administrative Court order the seizure of assets from Yingluck Shinawatra, a former Thai prime minister, due to a rice-pledging scheme controversy that yielded a massive USD 275 million penalty.
- In a verdict that overturned an earlier ruling, the court deemed Yingluck negligent for oversight in government-to-government rice export deals, ordering her to compensate 50% of the approximate 20 billion baht in damages.
- Of significant interest is Yingluck's case bearing striking similarities to three other Thai prime ministers who have faced asset confiscation, including Thailand's 23rd prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who lost over 46 billion baht due to suspicious promissory notes and the sale of Shin Corp.
- The ongoing legal battle for Yingluck underscores how the Shinawatra family's political influence and financial practices have caused division within Thailand's political landscape for many years.
- With this ruling, general news headlines now focus on Yingluck's financial liability, shaping the narrative in the realm of policy-and-legislation, business, finance, economy, politics, crime-and-justice, and stock market developments.
