Thailand impeaches former PM Shinawatra

Bangkok: Former Thailand prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra was impeached by the acting Thai parliament Friday for dereliction of duty in a controversial rice subsidy scheme.

The decision was approved190-18, with eight abstentions in Thailand's National Legislative Assembly (NLA), Xinhua reported.

The vote against the 47-year-old Shinawatra bans her from politics for five years.

Earlier in the day, the office of the attorney general (OAG) announced that it would launch a criminal case against the former prime minister for her alleged involvement in the same rice scheme.

The OAG said it would press charges against Shinawatra in the Thai Supreme Court's criminal division for holders of political positions, adding that there was sufficient evidence against the former prime minister.

If found guilty, Shinawatra would face a prison term of a maximum 10 years.

Meanwhile, the NLA voted to reject impeachment recommendations against former Senate speaker Nikhom Wairatpanich and former House speaker Somsak Kiatsuranon.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission had recommended the impeachment of the two politicians for their role in passing an amendment to change the composition of the Senate in September 2013. The amendment was later ruled unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court.

Nikhom received 95 votes for impeachment, while Somsak got 100, both avoiding the required number of 132 in the 220-seat NLA.