FormerThai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. (Source: Kyodo/VNA)

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam announced on September 18 that former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and several ministers in the former government's cabinet and many other officials will have to pay a total of 510 billion baht in compensation for losses caused by the rice purchasing program.

Among the former government officials who must pay compensation, in addition to Ms. Yingluck, are former Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, former Deputy Commerce Minister Phoom Sarapol and former Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade Manas Soythong.

According to Mr. Wissanu Krea-ngam, two investigation committees, one from the Ministry of Commerce and the other from the Ministry of Finance, will complete their investigation files on the above case by the end of this September. After that, the investigation reports will be submitted to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, who will ask the Compensation Committee to determine the level of violation of each individual and require them to pay appropriate compensation, otherwise their assets will be confiscated.

Ms. Yingluck and the above figures have 30 days to file an appeal to the Thai Administrative Court.

On January 23, Thailand's National Legislative Assembly (NLA) voted unanimously to impeach Ms. Yingluck for neglecting her duties in overseeing the rice subsidy program and causing the country billions of baht in losses.

With this accusation, Ms. Yingluck will be banned from participating in political activities for 5 years./.

According to VN+