Deputy minister denies role in hoarding of face masks for sale to China
Deputy Agriculture Minister Thamanat Prompow on Monday denied involvement in the hoarding of 200 million units of face masks for sale to Chinese traders.
The minister was accused of involvement with Sornsuwee Puraweerassawach who had hoarded face masks to export to China.
Sornsuwee updated the details of his business on his Facebook account which was spotted by Thai netizens. He had also posted a picture of himself with Phalang Pracharat Party MP Pittinan Rak-iad, who is related to the deputy minister.
Thamanat said that he did not have any close association with Sornsuwee. Pittinan said he had only one conversation about the face mask business with him and decided not to make any business contract with Sornsuwee.
The Minister said that Pittinan was asked to inform the officials to prosecute Sornsuwee in a case of hoarding face masks and overpricing them and if Pittinan was guilty, he would himself prosecute him.
When reporters asked Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on the issue, he only responded with a frown.
