Yingluck Shinawatra

Yingluck Shinawatra is thought to have fled Thailand. She faced negligence charges over her government's handling of rice deals with Chinese state enterprises that cost Thailand billions of dollars.

Thailand's top court has issued a warrant for the ousted leader after she was a no-show at a judgment hearing in a criminal case. Her lawyers said she had an earache, but the court didn't buy it.

Yingluck Shinawatra, whose government was ousted in a military coup in May, will be tried for her role in overseeing a failed policy to boost the price of rice paid to mostly poor, rural farmers.

If she's found guilty of negligence, former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra could be jailed for 10 years. She was removed from office last May.

Yingluck Shinawatra, whose government was removed from office in a military coup in May, has been accused of criminal negligence related to a failed program to prop up the price of rice.