Yingluck verdict opens another can of worms in the rice-pledging saga

11 Sept 08:01 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Administrative Court overturned a Finance Ministry order for former PM Yingluck Shinawatra to pay Bt35.7 billion in civil compensation for losses from her government's rice-pledging scheme, also revoking asset confiscation.
The court's ruling cited Yingluck's lack of direct authority to repeal the policy and insufficient evidence of her direct involvement in specific irregularities, clearing her of civil negligence.
This verdict is distinct from Yingluck's 2017 Supreme Court criminal conviction for negligence in the same scheme, which resulted in a five-year prison sentence she is currently evading as a fugitive.
The Finance Ministry plans to appeal the Administrative Court's decision, prolonging the legal dispute over Yingluck's financial liability and the status of her seized assets, while her criminal conviction remains final.

Flooding persists in Bangkok and 22 provinces

Today 16:00 Key points summarised by AI

Persistent flooding continues across Bangkok and 22 Thai provinces, though water levels are gradually receding in many affected areas.
Over 604,000 families, impacting approximately 1.83 million people, are still grappling with the widespread flood conditions.
The national flood death toll has reached 80 since mid-September, with fatalities reported across various provinces.
Major regions like Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, and Bangkok report significant numbers of affected households, with hundreds of thousands still in trouble.