前泰國總理英拉出庭受審

Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has appeared in court to face criminal charges over a mismanaged rice subsidy program that cost the country billions of dollars.

Ms. Yingluck, who was ousted as prime minister last year, told reporters Tuesday she is certain she will not be found guilty of the charges, which carry a possible sentence of 10 years in jail.

Ms. Yingluck is is charged with dereliction of duty for failing to stop corruption within the subsidy program, which paid farmers about two times the market price for their rice.

The ex-prime minister claims the case against her is politically motivated and insists the subsidies improved the quality of life for Thai farmers. Her opponents say the program was an attempt to win the farmers' political support.前泰國總理英拉出庭受審，她被控對一個大米補貼項目管理不當，導致國家損失數十億美元。

英拉星期二對記者說，她肯定自己不會被判有罪。這項控罪的最高刑期爲10年。英拉去年被罷免總理職務。

英拉被控犯有瀆職罪，理由是她未能制止大米補貼項目存在的腐敗現象。該項目以高於市場水平一倍的價格向農民收購大米。

英拉說，對她的指控是出於政治動機，並堅持認爲大米補貼項目提高了泰國農民的生活水平。英拉的反對者說，實施該項目是

試圖贏得農民的政治支持。