BANGKOK, Feb 9 — Thailand's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) wants former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to stay in the country pending her upcoming trial, according to Army commander-in-chief Gen Udomdej Sitabutr.
As NCPO Secretary-General, Gen Udomdej announced that the council had suspended Ms Yingluck’s request to travel abroad and that NCPO chief Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered the move after carefully considering information and the legal aspects of her case.
The Attorney General is about to arraign Ms Yingluck at the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on dereliction of duty in the rice-pledging scheme, Gen Udomdej said.
“Please note the necessity and it is a caution. We would like to offer convenience to everyone who cooperates but something affects the case that draws attention and has subsequent impacts. So, it is suspended to await the court’s ruling,” Gen Udomdej said.
“I believe that the former prime minister is aware of the necessity to wait for the legal process [to unfold],” he said before leaving for Singapore to conclude the Kocha Singha Thai-Singaporean joint military exercise and to boost military relations. (MCOT online news)
