Thailand's anti-corruption body said on Tuesday it had filed charges against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra relating to irregularities in the government's rice-buying program. She has been summoned to appear to face the charges on Feb 27.

"Although she knew that many people had warned about corruption in the scheme, she still continued with it. That shows her intention to cause losses to the government, so we have unanimously agreed to charge her," Vicha Mahakhun, a member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, said in a statement.

Yingluck is head of the National Rice Committee. Her government introduced the present program in 2011, paying farmers way above the market price for their grain.

Reuters

(China Daily 02/19/2014 page10)