The Interim Legislative Assembly, appointed by the ruling junta, agreed to disqualify Yingluck politically for five years, months after she was overthrown by a military coup d'etat in May 2014.

Instead of being accompanied by the prosecutor at the Supreme Court to learn about the charges filed against her, Yingluck sent a letter with her defense attorney, Norawich Larleng, in which she said that she will appear in court when the trial begins to prove her innocence.

The criminal court has until March 19 to decide whether there will be a trial, which is taken for granted due to insisting public pressure by the head of the de facto regime, General Prayut Chen-Ocha.

Finance Minister Sommai Phasee speculated with the program, which cost nearly one billion dollars to the government, which the ex prime minister must compensate.

However, ex Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong noted that the trial was illegal and unjustified, considering that the rice program had a positive impact on the country's macroeconomy and its benefits were larger than estimates.(PL)