Ex-Thailand PM's impeachment hearing begins

Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's first hearing of an impeachment case began Friday at the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).

The NLA kicked off the impeachment hearing on a motion filed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) against Yingluck for alleged dereliction of duty in supervising the rice-pledging programme, which ended amid charges of corruption and waste that cost the state huge amount of money, Bangkok Post reported.

She arrived with 30 documents to clarify her position.

If impeached, Yingluck could face a five-year ban from politics.

The NLA earlier decided to commence the impeachment case against former senate speaker Nikhom Wairatpanich and former House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranon Jan 8, 2015.

The case against the two politicians was also filed by the NACC for their role in passing a charter amendment to change the composition of the senate last September.

The amendment was ruled unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court later in November.

--Indo-Asian News Servcie

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