BANGKOK, Nov 7 — Thailand’s Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) remain in disagreement over the indictment of former premier Yingluck Shinawatra in a case related to her role in the now-defunct rice-pledging programme.
OAG Deputy Chief Vudhibhongse Vibulyawongse told journalists after a meeting of the OAG working committee and NACC representatives, the third of its kind, that no conclusion was reached made because both sides “disagreed on certain issues.”
The Attorney-General’s staff believed that additional witnesses should be questioned in order to gain solid evidence in the case, said Mr Vodhibhongse without elaborating.
He said NACC promised that it may question more than 10 witnesses.
Ms Yingluck is accused by the NACC of dereliction of duty for failing to terminate the rice-pledging scheme despite allegedly massive corruption and losses to the government.
Mr Vodhibhongse said the NACC would focus on Ms Yinluck’s alleged dereliction of duty rather than corruption and although the two agencies held different views, it is unnecessary for the NACC to file charges with the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders as it should wait for the OAG’s response.
“The OAG isn’t buying time, but it must perform its duty prudently for the sake of justice (for Ms Yingluck),” said Mr. Vodhibhongse .
NACC Secretary-General Sansern Poljiak said the agencies must hold a fresh round of discussion.
He said the joint working committee would have to inform the outcome of Friday’s meeting to committee members of each side first.
Mr Sansern said his agency stood firm on its stance as adhered to the law and that was why both the OAG and the NACC were unable to hold similar views.
