The Thai Supreme Court’s verdict determined that Yingluck’s actions did not constitute an abuse of power.
The court emphasized that she lacked full knowledge of the selection process and asserted that approving the newspapers fell within the discretionary powers of the prime minister and the cabinet to allocate budgetary resources.
This latest ruling adds to Yingluck’s acquittal in December in a separate case regarding political appointments.
These legal victories signal a significant development for the former prime minister, who had faced severe legal consequences, including a five-year prison sentence in absentia over her government’s rice-pledging scheme.
The Supreme Court held that there was a lack of evidence to pursue the charges.
Thaksin Shinawatra returns to Thailand
Yingluck Shinawatra fled Thailand in August 2017, joining her brother Thaksin Shinawatra, 74 in self-exile.
Thaksin returned to Thailand in August 2022, coinciding with the election of the Pheu Thai Party’s Srettha Thavisin, as prime minister. Thavisin is viewed as an ally of the Shinawatra clan.
