Officials to defend their role in rice scheme

Several prominent members of Yingluck’s administration, such as former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyaphirom, former deputy commerce minister Poom Sarapol and former director of the Commerce Ministry’s Foreign Trade Department Manus Soiploy, have charges levelled against them by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). These three individuals are accused of violating Acts 64 and 66. 

The three are being accused of allowing two Chinese firms, who were later found to not be representatives of the Chinese government, to sign a contract with the Thai government in a so-called government-to-government deal. The firms also did not undergo the required bidding process. 

NLA members yesterday scheduled 9am on April 23 as the time for the two former ministers and high-ranking civil servant to make a case in their defence. NACC representative, Vicha Mahakhun, will deliver opening remarks on the commission’s behalf. 

Vicha recently played a prominent role as NACC’s representative in Yingluck’s impeachment case over dereliction of duty that led to rampant corruption in the rice scheme. NLA members subsequently voted to impeach the former premier, effectively banning her from standing for public office for life under the new constitution.

Manus, meanwhile, submitted supporting evidence comprised of nine different documents to the NLA; however, the assembly members rejected the submission, saying most of the documents had already been handed over to NACC and the remainder could be used by Manus in his defence remarks.