Thai junta bars ex-premier from travelling overseas

THAILAND’S former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been denied permission to travel overseas.

A spokesman for the military-backed government said the move was designed to make sure she was in the country to face criminal charges later this month.

She is accused of corruption in a scheme she oversaw to subsidise rice farmers which could result in a 10-year jail term. She however, denied the charges.

Shinawatra was also banned from politics following her impeachment in January.

The former prime minister had asked for permission to leave the country until 22 February, government spokesman Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said.

He added that the attorney general was due to submit a subpoena on 19 February and she would have to be present for the case to go ahead.

Ms Yingluck’s lawyer said it was not necessary for her to appear in court for at least two months and if the military government used her case as an excuse to deny her the right to travel, that would be a “violation of her basic rights”.

Yingluck Shinawatra’s brother is ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who ruled the country from 2001 to 2006 and is still said to be an influential figure.

Yingluck Shinawatra became Thailand’s first female prime minister in July 2011.

She remained in her post until the Constitutional Court forced her to step down in early May 2014 after finding her guilty of abusing her power.

Weeks later, the military seized power and suspended the constitution saying it was necessary to restore order after months of protests against Ms Yingluck’s government.

Her impeachment in January led to a five-year ban from politics.