Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is being accused ofabusing power by using public funds to campaign for the general electionin February this year, local media reported on July 28.

Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) has alleged that Yingluck, alongwith eight other cabinet ministers and the national police chief at thattime, violated the already-abrogated 2007 Constitution by making lobbytrips across the country using public funds, according to the BangkokPost.

A senior EC official said the trips were made whileYingluck and her cabinet were in a caretaking status following thedissolution of the House of Representatives on December 9, 2013, thusviolated Section 181 of the 2007 Constitution, which stipulated that theoutgoing cabinet shall refrain from using resources or personnel ofState to conduct an act which may affect the result of a generalelection.

All involved in the case will be summoned to defendthemselves before the EC's investigation panel, pending further action,the source added.

If found guilty, those involved could face up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of 200,000 THB (about 6,200 USD).

This is a fresh allegation against Yingluck following the case inwhich the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has accused her ofnegligence of duty in overseeing a controversial rice-pledging scheme.

The NACC has forwarded the case to the Office of theAttorney-General for indictment. If found guilty, Yingluck could face ajail term as well as a five-year ban from politics.-VNA