However, she refrained from making any further statements because of the nation being a state of mourning over the King’s death.
“I’d like to confirm that I will exercise my rights every way granted by law to restore justice. And I’d like to deny all the accusations and reject such an unfair order,” the former prime minister said.
Yingluck said she would issue a statement in response to the ruling at a more appropriate time.
“So I won’t say anything now,” she said.
Yingluck spoke yesterday when she appeared at the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders to attend the fifth hearing of defendant witnesses in the case against her for alleged negligence of duty over the rice-pledging programme that cost the state tens of billions of baht. Two witnesses testified for Yingluck yesterday.
The government has been working on the case for damages through an administrative order, which is separate from a normal civil lawsuit.
It appointed a committee headed by Comptroller-General Manas Jamveha to calculate the financial losses, with the committee recently determining how much Yingluck should pay in her capacity as the head of the government and the chairwoman of the National Rice Policy Committee at the time. It was calculated at 20 per cent of the estimated total damages, or Bt35.7 billion.
The Finance Ministry was assigned by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to sign an administrative order demanding compensation from Yingluck, which was reportedly issued a few days ago.
It is unclear whether Yingluck has received it, but the former PM insisted she was innocent and said the compensation order was unfair.
“Everyone knows it is about the policy. And no one [else] has been asked to pay compensation in such a rushed manner,” Yingluck said, adding that penalising her would make it difficult for future governments wishing to pursue policies beneficial to farmers.
The order demanded that Yingluck pay the compensation within 30 days, but she can appeal.
A number of her supporters showed up at the court yesterday but wore black and white clothes in respect for the King and not their usual colourful attire when supporting Yingluck.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said he had not received a report on the Finance Ministry’s issuance of the order against Yingluck.
But he said she had the right to lodge a petition with the government asking for certain actions to be taken, such as appealing against the decision or alleviating it.