BANGKOK, Nov 11 – Thailand’s National Legislative Assembly (NLA) whip has tentatively postponed the legislative body’s impeachment debate against ex-premier Yingluck Shinawatra from tomorrow to November 28, pending formal approval by the Assembly tomorrow.
The decision was reached during a meeting this afternoon, according to whip spokesperson Dr Jetn Sirathranont.
The whip considered a request by Ms Yingluck’s lawyer to put off its deliberation for 30 days.
Dr Jetn said the Assembly whip considered the request and agreed that the ousted premier needs at least 15 days to study official charges from the NLA secretariat as stipulated by Assembly regulations.
According to her lawyer, Ms Yingluck received the documents only on Friday.
The NLA had earlier included the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s petition to impeach the ex-premier in its agenda for consideration at its meeting tomorrow.
Ms Yingluck is accused by the anti-graft committee of dereliction of duty for failing to terminate the rice-pledging scheme despite allegedly massive corruption and losses to the government.
Dr Jetn said Ms Yingluck could submit further evidence and requests for additional witnesses with the NLA for her defense.
The spokesperson said the whip’s decision will presented to the Assembly tomorrow for approval and he is confident that the legislators will agree to the request.
He also said Ms Yingluck’s legal team will be allowed to clarify its request for postponement of the case to the Assembly tomorrow.
