Thai PM Yingluck probed over 'corrupt rice subsidy scheme'

The investigation casts another shadow over the PM has she prepares for February's election

Thailand's official anti-corruption commission says it is investigating Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in connection with the government's controversial rice subsidy scheme.

The policy guarantees Thai rice farmers a much higher price than on the global market, but critics say it is too expensive and vulnerable to corruption.

The commission has already charged one minister, and is investigating others.

The news comes as Ms Yingluck already faces intense pressure to resign.

Anti-government protesters have been marching through the capital, saying they will shut it down until their demands are met.

They accuse her government of being under the control of her brother, ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

They say they want an unelected "People's Council" instead, to reform the electoral system.

Negligence of duty?

The rice purchase scheme was launched in 2011, with the aim of boosting farmers' incomes and helping alleviate rural poverty.

Thailand has long been one of the largest rice exporters in the world

But it has resulted in the accumulation of huge stockpiles of rice, which the government cannot sell.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) says it is looking into Ms Yingluck's role in the scheme, and investigating her for possible negligence of duty.

"Those who oversaw the scheme knew there were losses but did not put a stop to it," NACC spokesman Vicha Mahakhun told a news conference.

As prime minister, Ms Yingluck is nominally the head of the National Rice Committee.

Farmers have traditionally been some of Ms Yingluck's most ardent supporters. Her Pheu Thai Party was helped to power in 2011 by offering to buy rice at above the market price.

But the rice policy is thought to be costing Thailand around $10bn ( £6bn) a year - and the government has been unable to pay farmers for their most recent harvest, because a bond issue last year failed to raise sufficient funds.

That could cost the government support from one of its most important constituencies, according to the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok.

Farmers are already talking about marching on Bangkok in protest, he says.

In addition, if the NACC finds Prime Minister Yingluck guilty, she could be banned from politics, along with other ministers.

Ms Yingluck is already being criticised on the streets of Bangkok

This would cast another shadow over the election she has called for next month, our correspondent says.

The election is already proving contentious. The main opposition Democrat Party is boycotting the polls, which it fears will once again return the Shinawatra family to power.

Anti-government protesters have also rejected the elections, demanding electoral reforms.

Ms Yingluck is currently moving around Bangkok to avoid the protesters blockading her office - although police said on Thursday that the crowds on the streets were gradually dwindling in number.

The rallies are the latest twist in a nearly eight-year long saga, which started when Ms Yingluck's brother Thaksin was ousted in a military coup.