BANGKOK (AP) — Yingluck Shinawatra, ousted as Thailand’s prime minister three years ago, failed to appear in court Friday to hear the verdict on charges that she was negligent in handling a rice subsidy for farmers that was the centerpiece of her party’s 2011 election campaign. Her whereabouts were unknown, and there was speculation she has left the country. She could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Here’s a look at the case and key players involved:

WHAT WENT WRONG WITH SUBSIDY PROGRAM

Once Yingluck’s government took office, it paid rice farmers at inflated rates with the intention of driving up world prices by warehousing the grain. Instead, other rice-producing countries sold competitively and captured the market. Vietnam as a result replaced Thailand as the world’s leading rice exporter.

The government says the subsidy created a stockpile of 17.8 million tons of rice it couldn’t export at a price commensurate with what it had paid farmers. Prosecutors allege the government lost as much as $17 billion.

Critics saw the subsidy as a political ploy to buy the loyalty of rural voters with state funds. Prosecutors argued that Yingluck ignored warnings of corruption in the subsidy program and was guilty of dereliction of duty. Her supporters say the government has ignored the program’s benefits to farmers and note that it has not accused Yingluck herself of corruption.

Yingluck and her supporters say she is innocent and being persecuted in an effort to dismantle the political machine of her brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled from power by a 2006 military coup after being accused of abuse of power, corruption and disrespect for the country’s monarchy. His supporters, who delivered him unprecedented electoral victories, believe his only offense was challenging the power of the country’s traditional elite, led by monarchists and the military and supported by the urban middle class.

Thaksin is in self-imposed exile to avoid serving a prison term for what he calls a politically motivated 2008 conviction on a conflict of interest charge.

Yingluck, who inherited the leadership of Thaksin’s political machine and was elected prime minister in 2011, became a proxy target for his enemies.

Thailand is run by a military government that took power from Yingluck’s elected government in a May 2014 coup. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, then the army chief, said the military needed to restore order after months of aggressive street protests. Those protests were triggered by a government effort to grant amnesty to politicians that could have allowed Thaksin to return to Thailand without going to prison.

The junta pushed through reforms ostensibly to curb corruption and money politics by limiting the power of elected politicians, but clearly aimed at keeping Thaksin and his allies from power. It has delayed holding fresh elections.

There are signs that Prayuth may seek to continue to serve as prime minister in an elected government. Even if he doesn’t, the new constitution imposed after the coup ensures the army’s influence in politics.

Yingluck’s lawyers on Friday informed the Supreme Court that she could not attend the verdict because of an earache. The court rejected that excuse, citing a lack of medical verification. It postponed the verdict until Sept. 27 and announced that a warrant would be issued for Yingluck’s arrest.

The high court is a leading conservative institution and has a record of ruling against Thaksin’s supporters. Even before Yingluck failed to appear it had seemed likely that she would be convicted, because an acquittal would embarrass the government.

A conviction would pose risks of its own. Sending Yingluck to prison could help her supporters cast her as a victim of a democracy-destroying elite. Before Yingluck failed to appear Friday, a suspended sentence and a short symbolic stint in prison stood as strong possibilities.

Now, when the court returns to the case next month, it’s possible that Yingluck will be convicted and sentenced in absentia – just as her brother was nine years ago.</s>Thai authorities are looking for former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was a no-show at a judgment hearing Friday. Thailand's Supreme Court has issued an arrest warrant for the ousted leader, and border guards are keeping an eye out for her — although Shinawatra may have already left the country.

The dramatic twist comes after many in Thailand had been anticipating today's hearing — and a potential prison sentence for Shinawatra. Instead, current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he has "assigned officials to check the normal entry and exit routes and find out where she is."

From Bangkok, NPR's Michael Sullivan reports for our Newscast unit:



"There was a huge police presence at the courthouse where hundreds of her supporters had gathered for the verdict. But Yingluck's lawyers told the court she couldn't make it — because of an earache. "The judges weren't buying it. 'We don't think the defendant is ill, we think the defendant is hiding ... or has fled,' a court statement read. A new date for the verdict has been set for Sept. 27. Yingluck has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail."



Shinawatra has jumped bail following a string of problems that derailed her tenure. Forced out of office by a military coup in May of 2014, she was formally impeached in January of 2015. Months later, a court charged Shinawatra with negligence, as NPR's Scott Neuman reported, "for her role overseeing a populist rice-subsidy program that was mishandled, costing the government billions of dollars."

On Friday, two officials from Shinawatra's administration were ordered to serve long jail terms over the rice scheme. As Bangkok Post reports, former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom was sentenced to 42 years in jail; his former deputy, Poom Sarapol, got 36 years.

As for Shiniwatra's whereabouts, speculation in Thai media includes the possibility that she may have fled the country and traveled to Singapore, on her way to to join her brother, Thaksin — another former prime minister who was overthrown by the military back in 2006 and has since lived in a self-imposed exile.</s>Hundreds of supporters of ousted former Thai prime minister Yingluck began to gather outside Bangkok's Supreme Court early on Friday hours before the court was due to rule on a negligence case against her in which she faces up to 10 years in prison.

The long-awaited verdict could inflame tension in the Southeast Asian country and have far-reaching implications in the politically divided kingdom.

Bangkok's metropolitan police said around 4,000 police were deployed at the court and checkpoints had been set up.

A rice subsidy programme - a flagship policy of Yingluck's administration - saw her government buy farmers' crops at prices up to 50 percent higher than market prices. The policy was popular with farmers but left Thailand with huge rice stockpiles and caused $8 billion in losses.

Yingluck, who has pleaded not guilty to the negligence charges against her, has said she was only in charge of coming up with the policy but not the day-to-day management of the scheme. Her administration was removed in a 2014 military coup .

In the northeastern province Khon Kaen, a Shinawatra stronghold, a leader of the red shirt political movement that supports Yingluck said her supporters felt frustrated.

"Some people may want to demonstrate publicly to show their unhappiness about how Yingluck is being treated," he said.

Shinawatra's Puea Thai Party has said it does not support acts of violence and urged supporters to gather peacefully.

Some supporters outside the court in Bangkok held roses while others wore white gloves with the word "love" on them.

Bangon Saeliang, 56, a market vendor from Bangkok, said she turned up to support Yingluck because she felt the former prime minister had done nothing wrong.

"Farmers benefited from the scheme," she said.

Before giving a verdict in Yingluck's case, the court will rule in the case of Yingluck's former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom who is accused of falsifying government-to-government rice deals between Thailand and China in 2013.

The Shinawatra family has dominated Thai politics for more than 15 years and their parties have won every general election since 2001, but it is at the heart of a bitter and bloody power struggle in Thailand.

Yingluck's brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted in a 2006 coup. Supporters of the Shinawatras accuse the ruling generals of political persecution.

The military government has acknowledged it wants to maintain permanent influence over future elected governments, partly through a new constitution that took effect earlier this year.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led the 2014 coup against Yingluck's government, has said the coup was to end political turmoil in the country. He has promised that an election will be held next year.

Regardless of whether she is found guilty or innocent, Yingluck will not be able to run in that election because she was banned from politics for five years in 2015 by the junta's legislature for alleged graft in the rice-purchasing programme.

If Yingluck is found guilty she has 30 days to appeal and is expected to post bail, avoiding any immediate prison time.</s>Thai authorities are looking for former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was a no-show at a judgment hearing Friday. Thailand's Supreme Court has issued an arrest warrant for the ousted leader, and border guards are keeping an eye out for her — although Shinawatra may have already left the country.

The dramatic twist comes after many in Thailand had been anticipating today's hearing — and a potential prison sentence for Shinawatra. Instead, current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he has "assigned officials to check the normal entry and exit routes and find out where she is."

From Bangkok, NPR's Michael Sullivan reports for our Newscast unit:



"There was a huge police presence at the courthouse where hundreds of her supporters had gathered for the verdict. But Yingluck's lawyers told the court she couldn't make it — because of an earache. "The judges weren't buying it. 'We don't think the defendant is ill, we think the defendant is hiding ... or has fled,' a court statement read. A new date for the verdict has been set for Sept. 27. Yingluck has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail."



Shinawatra has jumped bail following a string of problems that derailed her tenure. Forced out of office by a military coup in May of 2014, she was formally impeached in January of 2015. Months later, a court charged Shinawatra with negligence, as NPR's Scott Neuman reported, "for her role overseeing a populist rice-subsidy program that was mishandled, costing the government billions of dollars."

On Friday, two officials from Shinawatra's administration were ordered to serve long jail terms over the rice scheme. As Bangkok Post reports, former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom was sentenced to 42 years in jail; his former deputy, Poom Sarapol, got 36 years.

As for Shiniwatra's whereabouts, speculation in Thai media includes the possibility that she may have fled the country and traveled to Singapore, on her way to to join her brother, Thaksin — another former prime minister who was overthrown by the military back in 2006 and has since lived in a self-imposed exile.</s>Thailand's Supreme Court on Friday said it would seek permission for an arrest warrant for former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra after she failed to show up to hear the court's verdict in a negligence case against her.

The court set a new date of Sept. 27 for the verdict. The court said Yingluck, who had pleaded not guilty in the case focused on a rice subsidy scheme for farmers, had told the court she could not attend due as she was suffering from an ear problem.

"We don't think that the defendant is ill. We think that the defendant is hiding or has fled ... We have pushed back the verdict date to September 27," a statement from a Supreme Court judge said. "She asked for sick leave not to show up today."

Her lawyer said on Friday he did not know whether she is still in Thailand after she failed to show up for the verdict in a negligence case that could result in her facing up to 10 years in prison.

"At 8 am Yingluck's team contacted me to say it had told the court she could not show up because of an ear fluid imbalance," Norawit Lalaeng, Yingluck's lawyer, told reporters.</s>Thai authorities are looking for former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra after she was a no-show Friday at a hearing where she was expected to learn the verdict in her criminal trial. Thailand's Supreme Court has issued an arrest warrant and border guards were keeping an eye out for her — although there was speculation that Shinawatra may have already left the country.

The dramatic twist dashed the expectations of many in Thailand who had been awaiting the verdict — and a potential prison sentence for Shinawatra if convicted of negligence.

Now, current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he has "assigned officials to check the normal entry and exit routes and find out where she is."

From Bangkok, NPR's Michael Sullivan reports for our Newscast unit:



"There was a huge police presence at the courthouse where hundreds of her supporters had gathered for the verdict. But Yingluck's lawyers told the court she couldn't make it — because of an earache. "The judges weren't buying it. 'We don't think the defendant is ill, we think the defendant is hiding ... or has fled,' a court statement read. A new date for the verdict has been set for Sept. 27. Yingluck has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail."



Shinawatra has jumped bail following a string of problems that derailed her tenure. Forced out of office by a military coup in May of 2014, she was formally impeached in January of 2015. Months later, a court charged Shinawatra with negligence, as NPR's Scott Neuman reported, "for her role overseeing a populist rice-subsidy program that was mishandled, costing the government billions of dollars." She has pleaded not guilty.

On Friday, two officials from Shinawatra's administration were ordered to serve long jail terms over the rice scheme. As the Bangkok Post reports, former Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom was sentenced to 42 years in jail; his former deputy, Poom Sarapol, got 36 years.

As for Shiniwatra's whereabouts, Thai media speculated that she might have fled the country and traveled to Singapore, on her way to to join her brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin, who was overthrown by the military back in 2006 and has since lived in a self-imposed exile after he was found guilty of corruption.</s>Thailand's former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has fled to Dubai, senior members of her party said on Saturday, a day after she failed to show up for a negligence ruling in which she faced up to 10 years in prison.

Sources in her Puea Thai Party said the former prime minister left Thailand last week and flew via Singapore to Dubai where her brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who lives in self-imposed exile to avoid a 2008 jail sentence for corruption, has a home.

"We heard that she went to Cambodia and then Singapore from where she flew to Dubai. She has arrived safely and is there now," said a senior member of the Puea Thai Party who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

Deputy national police chief General Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul said police had no record of Yingluck leaving the country and where following developments closely.

A Reuters reporter was stopped by security at the exclusive Emirates Hills community in Dubai, where Thaksin has a home.

A spokesperson for Thaksin in Dubai did not respond to attempts by Reuters to contact Thaksin.</s>Thai authorities are looking for former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was a no-show at a judgment hearing Friday. Thailand's Supreme Court has issued an arrest warrant for the ousted leader, and border guards are keeping an eye out for her — although Shinawatra may have already left the country.

The dramatic twist comes after many in Thailand had been anticipating today's hearing — and a potential prison sentence for Shinawatra. Instead, current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he has "assigned officials to check the normal entry and exit routes and find out where she is."

From Bangkok, NPR's Michael Sullivan reports for our Newscast unit:



"There was a huge police presence at the courthouse where hundreds of her supporters had gathered for the verdict. But Yingluck's lawyers told the court she couldn't make it — because of an earache. "The judges weren't buying it. 'We don't think the defendant is ill, we think the defendant is hiding ... or has fled,' a court statement read. A new date for the verdict has been set for Sept. 27. Yingluck has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail."



Shinawatra has jumped bail following a string of problems that derailed her tenure. Forced out of office by a military coup in May of 2014, she was formally impeached in January of 2015. Months later, a court charged Shinawatra with negligence, as NPR's Scott Neuman reported, "for her role overseeing a populist rice-subsidy program that was mishandled, costing the government billions of dollars."

On Friday, two officials from Shinawatra's administration were ordered to serve long jail terms over the rice scheme. As Bangkok Post reports, former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom was sentenced to 42 years in jail; his former deputy, Poom Sarapol, got 36 years.

As for Shiniwatra's whereabouts, speculation in Thai media includes the possibility that she may have fled the country and traveled to Singapore, on her way to to join her brother, Thaksin — another former prime minister who was overthrown by the military back in 2006 and has since lived in a self-imposed exile.</s>Bangkok: Former Thai PM Yingluck Shinawatra has fled abroad as the country`s Supreme Court issued an arrest warrant after she failed to appear on Friday for the verdict in a negligence case brought against her by the ruling junta, a media report said.

A BBC report quoted sources close to her party as saying she made the decision to leave unexpectedly.

The top court issued the arrest warrant against Yingluck after she did not appear for the verdict in her trial over a rice subsidy scheme.

As thousands of supporters gathered near the court in Laksi district, the judges rejected her explanation she had Meniere`s disease and was suffering from vertigo, after her lawyer failed to present a medical certificate, reported The Bangkok Post.

The court also ordered the seizure of her 30 million baht ($900,360) bail bond. On Thursday, Yingluck told her supporters via Facebook to stay at home on Friday and not go to the court.

Reports said she was last seen in Bangkok on Wednesday.

The Supreme Court`s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions was set to announce its ruling on Yingluck, who faces trial for dereliction of duty in failing to halt her government`s loss ridden,corruption-plagued rice-pledging scheme, despite being warned repeatedly to do so.

The scheme, introduced in 2011, pledged to pay farmers well above the market rate for their crop, and ended up costing the country billions.

Yingluck said the rice subsidy scheme was "beneficial for the farmers and the country" and that claims it lost money were wrong and motivated by political bias against her.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail and/or a fine of 200,000 baht ($6,000).

The court has scheduled the hearing for September 27. Police estimated about 3,000 of the former leader`s supporters showed up near the Supreme Court on Friday morning.

When she was inaugurated in 2011, Yingluck became Thailand`s first female Prime Minister and its youngest in over 60 years.

The sister of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck was ousted by a coup in 2014 and was later impeached by Thailand`s military-appointed National Legislative Assembly.

The ruling barred her from political office for five years.</s>Thai authorities are looking for former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was a no-show at a judgment hearing Friday. Thailand's Supreme Court has issued an arrest warrant for the ousted leader, and border guards are keeping an eye out for her — although Shinawatra may have already left the country.

The dramatic twist comes after many in Thailand had been anticipating today's hearing — and a potential prison sentence for Shinawatra. Instead, current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he has "assigned officials to check the normal entry and exit routes and find out where she is."

From Bangkok, NPR's Michael Sullivan reports for our Newscast unit:



"There was a huge police presence at the courthouse where hundreds of her supporters had gathered for the verdict. But Yingluck's lawyers told the court she couldn't make it — because of an earache. "The judges weren't buying it. 'We don't think the defendant is ill, we think the defendant is hiding ... or has fled,' a court statement read. A new date for the verdict has been set for Sept. 27. Yingluck has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail."



Shinawatra has jumped bail following a string of problems that derailed her tenure. Forced out of office by a military coup in May of 2014, she was formally impeached in January of 2015. Months later, a court charged Shinawatra with negligence, as NPR's Scott Neuman reported, "for her role overseeing a populist rice-subsidy program that was mishandled, costing the government billions of dollars."

On Friday, two officials from Shinawatra's administration were ordered to serve long jail terms over the rice scheme. As Bangkok Post reports, former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom was sentenced to 42 years in jail; his former deputy, Poom Sarapol, got 36 years.

As for Shiniwatra's whereabouts, speculation in Thai media includes the possibility that she may have fled the country and traveled to Singapore, on her way to to join her brother, Thaksin — another former prime minister who was overthrown by the military back in 2006 and has since lived in a self-imposed exile.
Senior members of the Pheu Thai Party report former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra left Thailand last week ahead of the verdict in her negligence trial. She is in Dubai where her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, lives.