Nine judges selected to hear G2G rice case

Some of the judges will also hear a separate case against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who is accused of negligence in her role in the corruption-plagued rice scheme implemented by her government.

The nine judges selected are Thanarerk Nitisenee, president of the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions; Slaikate Wattanapan, president of the Supreme Court’s Tax Division; Wiroon Sangtian, president of the court’s Commercial and Economic Division; Tassanee Junsunjai Thammagane, president of the court’s Bankruptcy Division; Cheep Jullamon, vice-president of the Supreme Court; Pussapa Panomyunt, president of the court’s Juvenile and Family Division; Veerapol Tuhnsuwan, vice-president of the Supreme Court; Nualnoi Pholthavee, president of the court’s Intellectual Property and International Trade Division; and Apirat Ladpli, a chief justice in the Supreme Court.

Yesterday’s general assembly of court judges was presided over by Supreme Court President Direk Ingkaninanda. The judges are scheduled to decide on April 20 as to whether to accept for trial the case against Boonsong, former deputy commerce minister Poom Sarapol, and 19 others accused of corruption and bid fixing involving the sale of rice in a government-to-government deal. The case was filed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission with the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.

Thanarerk said that the judges were selected in a secret ballot and he did not think this would affect the trial of either case.