前泰国总理英拉出庭受审

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.

英拉星期二对记者说，她肯定自己不会被判有罪。这项控罪的最高刑期为10年。英拉去年被罢免总理职务。

英拉被控犯有渎职罪，理由是她未能制止大米补贴项目存在的腐败现象。该项目以高于市场水平一倍的价格向农民收购大米。

英拉说，对她的指控是出于政治动机，并坚持认为大米补贴项目提高了泰国农民的生活水平。英拉的反对者说，实施该项目是

试图赢得农民的政治支持。