DHAKA: Thailand’s Supreme Court accepted a criminal case against ousted former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday for allegedly mishandling a multibillion-dollar rice subsidy scheme, and she could be jailed for up to 10 years if found guilty.

‘The panel (of judges) has decided that this case falls within our authority... We accept this case,’ said judge Veeraphol Tangsuwan at Bangkok’s Supreme Court, adding that the first hearing will be held on May 19, reports The Straits Times.

Yingluck was banned from politics for five years in January after a military-backed legislature found her guilty of corruption related to the rice subsidy.

In February, the state prosecutor filed criminal charges against Yingluck, highlighting, her supporters said, the speed with which the junta is moving with cases against her powerful political family and its supporters.

BDST: 1918 HRS, MAR 19, 2015