Verdict finalized, Yingluck Shinawatra ordered to repay 10 billion baht due to involvement in G2G rice subsidy corruption case.
Rice Pledging Scandal: Supreme Administrative Court Orders Yingluck Shinawatra to Pay Over 10 Billion Baht in Compensation
The Supreme Administrative Court has rendered its verdict in the rice pledging scandal case, ruling that former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra must pay 10.03 billion baht in damages for enabling corruption during the implementation of the government-to-government (G2G) rice sales.
The judgement, announced on May 22, 2025, follows an appeal by the Ministry of Finance against an earlier ruling that had cleared Yingluck of liability. The rice pledging scheme was instated to support farmers by purchasing rice above market prices. However, it was fraught with corruption, including illegal imports, subpar storage, and fraudulent G2G sales, leading to substantial financial losses and market distortion.
In its ruling, the Supreme Administrative Court found Yingluck accountable for failing to prevent the unlawful G2G rice transactions, which contributed to the corruption within the scheme. The court determined that Yingluck should bear half of the 20.057 billion baht in damages related to the G2G sales aspect of the scheme. Originally, the Ministry of Finance had claimed 35.7 billion baht in damages.
However, the court significantly reduced the amount of damages Yingluck must pay to 10.028 billion baht. The ruling stated that Yingluck neglected her responsibilities as Prime Minister and failed to monitor or supervise the G2G rice sales process, allowing corruption to occur and resulting in delayed sales, prolonged storage, deterioration in quality, and loss.
Following the verdict, the Pheu Thai Party, to which Yingluck belongs, announced plans to petition the administrative court for a reduction in the financial penalty imposed on Yingluck. The party intends to present new evidence related to recent rice sales from government stockpiles, which were not considered in the court's initial assessment.
The rice pledging scandal has been a significant political issue in Thailand, and this ruling continues to impact Yingluck Shinawatra and her allies as they navigate ongoing legal challenges.
- The judgment against Yingluck Shinawatra, ex-Prime Minister, not only involves a hefty compensation of 10.03 billion baht for the rice pledging scandal but also highlights the intersection of business (rice sales) and politics (government-to-government rice sales) with allegations of corruption.
- The ruling by the Supreme Administrative Court is a part of the ongoing policy-and-legislation endeavors to combat corruption, as it holds Yingluck responsible for failing to prevent unlawful G2G transactions, causing substantial financial losses.
- The verdict has resulted in a ripple effect in Thailand's general news landscape, with the Pheu Thai Party, to which Yingluck belongs, planning to appeal for a reduction in her financial penalty and presenting new evidence related to crime-and-justice matters such as illegal rice sales from government stockpiles.
