Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday pleaded not guilty as a trial against her began in country's top court.
Yingluck, sister of fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the country's first female premier, is charged with dereliction of duty and abuse of authority as her government failed to stop graft and losses in the rice subsidy scheme.
In a brief but lively hearing, a public prosecutor told the court that Yingluck's inaction allegedly caused losses of more than $14 billion to the public exchequer. .
After the hearing, the Supreme Court granted her temporary release and asked her to not leave the country without court's permission. If found guilty, she could face a maximum jail term of 10 years.
Earlier this morning, Yingluck arrived at the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions along with her husband Anusorn Amornchat, ex-cabinet colleagues Nattawut Saikaur, Plodpasop Suraswadi and a team of high-profile lawyers.
"I am confident that I am innocent and I hope the court will give me justice and allow everything to proceed in accordance with the law," Yingluck told reporters before the hearing, according to AFP.
About 500 policemen deployed at court premise during the hearing as front area of court was crowded with her supporters.
Nation Multimedia reports that Yingluck's face showed no emotion when the presiding judge read charges against her and asked how she would plead.
After hearing the charges, Yingluck said she would submit a written defense statement to the court on July 3. The court set July 21 and 28 for the first examination of evidence and witnesses. The court also ordered Yingluck to appear before the court at all hearings, according to the Bangkok Post.
Last year a Constitutional Court forced Yingluck to step down after finding her guilty of abusing her power. Earlier this year she was impeached and banned from politics for five years.
