Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been found guilty of criminal negligence and sentenced in absentia to five years in prison, BBC reported.

The Supreme Court convicted her of mishandling a rice subsidy scheme which allegedly cost Thailand at least $8bn, according to BBC.

Ousted in 2014, weeks before a military coup, and later impeached, Yingluck denies all charges and fled before the verdict, reportedly to Dubai.

Public opinion is divided. She remains popular with rural and poor voters.

The Supreme Court judges said Yingluck had been aware of the falsified rice deals but did nothing to stop it.

"The accused knew that the government-to-government rice contract was unlawful but did not prevent it," the court said in a statement.

"Which is a manner of seeking unlawful gains. Therefore, the action of the accused is considered negligence of duty," it said.

During her trial, Yingluck had argued she was not responsible for the day-to-day running of the scheme and insisted she was a victim of political persecution.