Thailand's attorney general has filed criminal charges against former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra over her involvement in a bungled rice subsidy program that cost the country billions of dollars.
Prosecutors on Thursday charged Ms. Yingluck with dereliction of duty for overseeing the program, which paid farmers above market prices for their rice. Her opponents say the program was an attempt to win the farmers' political support.
The Supreme Court must decide by March 19 whether to accept the case. If found guilty, Ms. Yingluck could be jailed for up to a decade.
Ms. Yingluck was ousted by a court order in May 2014, just days before the military seized power. Last month, Thailand's military-appointed legislature retroactively impeached her and banned her from politics for five years.
The Thai junta is also considering a civil suit against Ms. Yingluck. The National Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday recommended the government seek $18 billion in damages for the rice scheme.
The ex-prime minister claims the case against her is politically motivated and insists the rice subsidy program benefited Thai farmers.