Supreme Court Takes New Case Against Thaksin Cabinet Over Rubber Saplings

[Scott]

I think most of us are well aware that PAD is accused of insurrection (treason), but that still doesn't leave very many people left whom one can call 'honest', or if you want to be pedantic, law-abiding. It also seriously diminishes the number of people who are experienced/qualified to run the country.

[sriracha john]

Key ex-Thaksin ministers, associates in court on rubber sapling corruption case

BANGKOK, Sept 23 (TNA) - Forty-four members and associates of the former Cabinet of ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra went on trial in Bangkok today, two years and a few days after Thailand's military said "enough" and removed the then government by threat of bayonet rather than the ballot box.

As the defendants made their way into the courtroom they refused to answer questions from members of the media.

Thailand remains divided along party, ideological and sentimental lines, the country's judiciary is working methodically through a roster of cases affecting many areas of government.

Under stern admonition from His Majesty the King to rise to the seriousness of the task and to protect the instruments of state and society, the Thai Supreme Court Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions Tuesday opened hearings at which 44 members of the Thaksin Cabinet -- reflecting a significant slice of Thailand's urban elite -- as the defendants walked into court to face charges in a complicated scheme to supply rubber saplings to farmers throughout the country.

*reminiscent of big Mafia Family mass trials*

The trial opened with former key ministers of Thaksin administration attending the hearing including former deputy prime minister and finance minister Somkid Jatusripitak--once viewed as a prospective prime minister, former deputy finance minister Varathep Ratanakorn, former deputy minister of agriculture and cooperatives Newin Chidchob, former agriculture minister Sorra-at Klinprathum, and former commerce minister Adisai Photaramik.

The court action is its first trial in the large-scale corruption regarding rubber saplings iinvolving 44 persons, including the five former government ministers, were allegedly involved.

Jessada Anujaree, a lawyer representing the now defunct Assets Examination Committee (AEC) and responsible for prosecuting the case, said the trial started at 10 am and that all 44 defendants were ordered to appear at the first hearing.

The defendants were allegedly involved in the Bt1.44 billion (about US$42.6 million) in a rubber sapling supply project in which the former government of Thaksin Shinawatra awarded contracts to private companies to grow 90 million saplings.

Three private companies were charged, including a subsidiary of Thailand's largest agro-industrial conglomerate, the Charoen Pokphand Group better known as the CP Group.

The subsidiary, Charoen Pokphand Seeds, and the other two companies are alleged to have been involved in the procurement and were charged with supplying poor quality rubber saplings to farmers, i.e. small trees that failed to mature when replanted.

The court accepted the case for hearing on August 6 and allowed the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) to become the plaintiff, replacing the AEC which is now dissolved.

[h90]

I think most of us are well aware that PAD is accused of insurrection (treason), but that still doesn't leave very many people left whom one can call 'honest', or if you want to be pedantic, law-abiding. It also seriously diminishes the number of people who are experienced/qualified to run the country.

The Democrats? PAD anyway don't want to run the country

[sriracha john]

All 44 defendants claim innocence in the 1.4 Billion Baht rubber sapplings case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday convened the arraignment hearing for 44 defendants, including five former Cabinet members, for graft charges relating to the 1.4 Billion Baht rubber saplings case.

The case happened under the Thaksin Shinawatra administration and involved former deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak, former deputy finance minister Varathep Ratanakorn, former deputy agriculture minister Newin Chidchob, former agriculture minister Sora-at Klinpratoom and former commerce minister Adisai Bodharamik.

After the high court read out graft charges, the 44 defendants entered a plea of not guilty and claimed trial.

The charges were cited from three pertinent laws, the Criminal Code, the anti-collusion in state bidding legislation, and the state officials' offences legislation.

The alleged violations stemmed from irregularities relating to the 1.4 Billion Baht contract awarded to winning bidders to supply rubber saplings to hand out to farmers in the Northeast.

Following arraignment, the high court allowed two months for the defence to examine the prosecution evidence outlined in more than 10,000 pages.

The hearing for the examination of prosecution and defence evidence have been scheduled to last three days on December 16-18.

The defence has been instructed to submit its list of witnesses and evidence seven days prior to the hearing.

The National Counter Corruption Commission will be the prosecution agency in lieu of the Assets Examination Committee whose term expired.

The Law Society of Thailand is the prosecution counsel because the Office of the Attorney-General has differing opinions and could not complete the prosecution review.

- The Nation / 2008-09-23

[sriracha john]

Newin Chidchob, ex-deputy agriculture minister, attends the Supreme Court's hearing to defend himself on graft charges over the 1.4 Billion Baht rubber saplings case on Tuesday. Newin is a close aide to ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Nation

=====================================================

Former Ministers Deny Wrongdoing in Rubber Saplings Case

The Supreme Court has set the middle of December as the period for its verification of the list of eyewitnesses and evidence in the controversial rubber saplings project. Former key members of the Thaksin Shinawatra administration insisted on their innocence in the case at today's court hearing.

The Supreme Court's division for cases against political post holders held its first hearing today into the controversial purchase of 90 million rubber saplings, supervised by former Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and former Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Newin Chidchob. Both denied all allegations against them.

The tribunal also resolved to hold its hearing into the controversial purchase of 90 million rubber saplings, between December 16th and 18th.

The defendants, including former Deputy Prime Minister in charge of supervising the Farm Policy and Assistant Measurements Committee Somkid Jatusripitak; former Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Newin Chidchob, and 44 other related figures were indicted by the now-defunct Assets Examination Committee for violating article 157 of the Criminal Code over malfeasance.

The tribunal divided the defendants into three groups, including the committee's executive figures, the panel in charge of the bidding process, and bidders and bid winners.

15 staff members from three private companies involved in the bidding process, including Charoen Pokphand Seed Company, Resort Land Limited Company, and Eak Charoen Agriculture, are also among the 44 defendants.

The companies were indicted for violating the Act on the Public Bidding Process.

The AEC required the defendants to pay a compensation of 1.44 Billion Baht with an annual 7.5 percent interest rate to the Office of the Rubber Replanting Aid Fund.

Meanwhile, the tribunal instructed the plaintiff and defendants to conduct careful organization of the information related to the case as the details are very complicated, while lists of their evidence, eyewitnesses, and examination procedures must be presented to the court within seven days before the evidence verifying date.

Public office holders found guilty of malfeasance will serve a prison term of between one to ten years, or a fine of between 2,000 and 20,000 baht, while staff members from the committees taking part in the bidding process will face a maximum punishment of a three-year jail term or a fine of not more than 6,000 baht.

- TOC / 2008-09-23

[slimdog]

The AEC required the defendants to pay a compensation of 1.44 Billion Baht with an annual 7.5 percent interest rate to the Office of the Rubber Replanting Aid Fund.

Interesting that 4 months after the coup the following was published:

Sak said both the Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Ministry and the Office of the Rubber Replanting Aid Fund showed reluctance to file complaints against wrongdoers, including the Thaksin Cabinet and the ministry's officers, by saying they had not been harmed, despite irregularities in last government's rubber-seedling project, claiming no payment relating to the process had been made.

source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/01/27...al_30025245.php

[animatic]

The fat lady may not be singing yet but she is most certainly humming the lyrics to the song.

Oh they have Karl Orff composing her a Caramina Burana big time finale with extra tympany

and Heronimous Bosch as set designer. Because when all this crashes down on them all in the end,

it will seem like the 7th ring of hel_l, with extra agony choir ,singing their fuzzy butts off to

a long term personal engagement at the Bangkok Hilton.

Like rats from a sinking ship running Cambodian casinos may seem a good thing.

[sriracha john]

Not guilty pleas in sapling graft case

All 44 defendants in the 1.44 Billion-Baht rubber sapling corruption case, including five former ministers in the Thaksin Shinawatra government, entered pleas of not guilty when they appeared before the Supreme Court yesterday. The case against them was filed by the NCCC. The court gave them two months to study the evidence. The defence case is scheduled for Dec 16-18. The former ministers and other government officials are accused of pushing the project for the government to buy 90 million saplings from the private sector and distribute them to farmers under a scheme to expand the area under rubber plantations by one million rai. Dating back to June 2003, the 1.44 Billion Baht for the project was allegedly illegally diverted from a government fund for farmers' rehabilitation. Three years later, bidding terms and evaluations were allegedly distorted to favour bidders who lacked experience in growing rubber saplings. Unfair bidding terms screened out other contenders while favoured bidders could conceal the source of their saplings. Finally, CP Seeds Co won the contract. The company was also allowed to demand an advance payment of 200 Million Baht, although this violated PM's Office regulations on

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/240908_News/24Sep2008_news09.php

[jumnien]

Rubber saplings and cooking shows! Don't these so-called "justices" have something better to do?

[h90]

Rubber saplings and cooking shows! Don't these so-called "justices" have something better to do?

But you know how much money it was at the rubber saplings and that mostly Isaan farmers got cheated?

[sriracha john]

perhaps it's just as well the rubber sapling project was a colossal flop...

Thailand to cut rubber output by 700,000 tonnes

BANGKOK: Thailand, the world’s biggest rubber producer, plans to cut production by 700,000 tonnes in the six months starting from October to shore up prices, the Agriculture Ministry said yesterday.

“We will encourage farmers to tap less latex as we aim to cut rubber supply by 50% between October to March,” said Deputy Agriculture Minister Theerachai Saenkaew, who oversees rubber matters.

He told Reuters that the cut in output was based on the 1.4 million tonnes Thailand produced from October 2007 to March 2008.

It would be equivalent to around 23% of Thailand’s likely production this year of around 3.1 million tonnes.

The country produced 3 million tonnes in 2007. Theerachai said the government would accelerate its replanting programme by urging farmers to cut down more ageing rubber trees.

It aims to cut the area covered by rubber trees that are more than 25 years old by 64,000 hectares (158,100 acres) a year, up from the current 32,000 hectares per year.

The price of Thai RSS3, a benchmark for physical prices, was quoted at US$1.85 per kg on Monday, just a few months after it struck a 56year high of US$3.25 in July.

Tokyo rubber futures reflect the bearish outlook, falling more than 5% on Monday, with weaker oil prices and a stronger yen adding to the pressure on prices.

Car sales are slumping as consumers turn cautious in the face of a global financial crisis, and with more than 70% of rubber sales going to the car tyre industry, top producers Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia are feeling the pinch.

As part of the plan to reduce rubber supply, Thailand will also reduce physical rubber trading days in local trading centres across the country from October to March, when supply was expected to fall, Theerachai said.

“Trading days would be cut by two or three days per week to meet falling supply,” he said. - Reuters

- Reuters / 2008-10-28

[animatic]

Of course who asks the ISSAN farmers if they want to grow less and so get paid less.

The end profit of shoring this up goes to the puyais anyway.

The farmer just gets told bring in less.

Of course the trees are like cows n ho's, they want to get tapped regularly.

No stopping them getting the dirty job done.

[cushendall]

form

Why do the thai people put up with these low life

er Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra

former Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchob

former Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak

BREAKING NEWS

Court agrees to hear sapling case against 44 people

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions decided Wednesday to put 44 people, including former Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchob and former Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, on trial for alleged irregularities relating to the procurement of 90 million rubber saplings. The accused are charged with collusion in illegal bidding on the state's 1.4 Billion-Baht rubber sapling distribution contract and for abusing the Farmers' Rehabilitation Fund. The court set the first hearing for September

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=129344

[sriracha john]

former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra

former Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchob

former Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak

BREAKING NEWS

Court agrees to hear sapling case against 44 people

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions decided Wednesday to put 44 people, including former Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchob and former Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, on trial for alleged irregularities relating to the procurement of 90 million rubber saplings. The accused are charged with collusion in illegal bidding on the state's 1.4 Billion-Baht rubber sapling distribution contract and for abusing the Farmers' Rehabilitation Fund. The court set the first hearing for September

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=129344

Why do the thai people put up with these low life

previous post fixed.... don't worry, learning how the quoting works can take a little time to get the hang of it...

welcome to Thaivisa

[sriracha john]

Newin released on bail in rubber sapling case

Former Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchob was Tuesday released on bail in a corruption case related to Bt90-milllion rubber sapling distribution project.

He placed assets worth Bt2 million as guarantee with the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.

He also sought permission from the court to skip court hearings.

- The Nation / 2008-12-16

[samgrowth]

I have a feeling that the reason Newin defect is that he cut a deal with PAD to let him walk from the Rubber Sapling case.

[permanent_disorder]

Rubber saplings and cooking shows! Don't these so-called "justices" have something better to do?

But you know how much money it was at the rubber saplings and that mostly Isaan farmers got cheated?

i have no doubt that you can tell us about how much money it was "that mostly Isaan farmers got cheated". so please enlighten us.

[samgrowth]

Rubber saplings and cooking shows! Don't these so-called "justices" have something better to do?

But you know how much money it was at the rubber saplings and that mostly Isaan farmers got cheated?

i have no doubt that you can tell us about how much money it was "that mostly Isaan farmers got cheated". so please enlighten us.

It is not the Issan farmers got cheated. It is the Thai tax payer that got cheated. I don't know the exact amount, but my guess is that it should be more than what Samak pocketed from the cooking show. LOL TIT

[animatic]

Rubber saplings and cooking shows! Don't these so-called "justices" have something better to do?

But you know how much money it was at the rubber saplings and that mostly Isaan farmers got cheated?

i have no doubt that you can tell us about how much money it was "that mostly Isaan farmers got cheated". so please enlighten us.

It is not the Issan farmers got cheated. It is the Thai tax payer that got cheated. I don't know the exact amount, but my guess is that it should be more than what Samak pocketed from the cooking show. LOL TIT

How about

Bt90-milllion rubber sapling distribution project.

divided by 65 mill Thais.

EACH living Thai lost 1.4 baht + or -

except for those in the loop to big profits,

and those were NOT the poor Issan farmers...

BUT this was lost more to those who grow the saplings that were found poor.

And that means farmers bear a disproportionate load.

Sam why you think PAD has any control over the courts I can't imagine.

Maybe some judges may drag feet on Newin, thinking to please the powers in control now.

Maybe also this case it too big to slow down for ONE person's benefit.

It is a HUGE case and right in your face public too.

Even with a court judgment against him he would still hold his cards to play.

And if he goes down, a HUGE percentage of TRT / PPP guys go down too.

[Ricardo]

It is not the Issan farmers got cheated. It is the Thai tax payer that got cheated. I don't know the exact amount, but my guess is that it should be more than what Samak pocketed from the cooking show. LOL TIT

I disagree, since the rubber-trees which were/would-have-been supplied were sub-standard, it was indeed the Isaan-farmers who were being cheated. All in the best interests of TRT the country the people !

[animatic]

It is not the Issan farmers got cheated. It is the Thai tax payer that got cheated. I don't know the exact amount, but my guess is that it should be more than what Samak pocketed from the cooking show. LOL TIT

I disagree, since the rubber-trees which were/would-have-been supplied were sub-standard, it was indeed the Isaan-farmers who were being cheated. All in the best interests of TRT the country the people !

Actually both are correct as I stated above.

The Taxpayers financed this, but the farmers get cheated TWICE.

Once as a taxed citizen and once as a farmer.

Even if the farmer makes so little he isn't directly taxed,

he still gets indirect taxation, in loss of service for lack of money.

[sriracha john]

on trial for alleged irregularities relating to the procurement of 90 million rubber saplings. The accused are charged with collusion in illegal bidding on the state's 1.44 Billion-Baht rubber sapling distribution contract and for abusing the Farmers' Rehabilitation Fund.

But you know how much money it was at the rubber saplings and that mostly Isaan farmers got cheated?

How about

Bt90-milllion rubber sapling distribution project.

divided by 65 mill Thais.

EACH living Thai lost 1.4 baht + or -

except for those in the loop to big profits,

and those were NOT the poor Issan farmers...

BUT this was lost more to those who grow the saplings that were found poor.

And that means farmers bear a disproportionate load.

Sorry to throw a monkey wrench into your maths, but you need to divide 1.44 Billion Baht, not 90 million, by 65 million. The updated article erroneous said 90 million baht. That should have been 90 million saplings... for 1.44 Billion Baht was the money amount.

[animatic]

OK

22.15 baht

charged to every living Thai person to finance this

tree program that was not giving out good trees.

Who got most of the money???

Seems like they stole the lunch of every Thai person on the same day.

[samgrowth]

OK

22.15 baht

charged to every living Thai person to finance this

tree program that was not giving out good trees.

Who got most of the money???

Seems like they stole the lunch of every Thai person on the same day.

The tree was bought from CP (ring a bell? non MP minister?)

The project was headed by Newin (ring a bell? TRT banned #x and Apbisit allies)

[sriracha john]

Supreme Court to start witness investigation in rubber plant corruption case tomorrow

The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders will start the first interrogation of the accuser’s witness in 90 Million rubber plant corruption case worth 1.44 Billion Baht tomorrow (Mar 4).

Lawyer of defendants in the rubber plant corruption case, Nopphadon Lowthong, said that the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders had made an appointment to interrogate the accuser's witnesses in this case at 9.30am.

Before the interrogation starts, the 44 defendants would send their representatives to deliver their opening statement to judges, while the Farmers’ Assistance Measure and Policy Committee would send government officials to make statements.

The National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC), as the accuser, had prepared 25 witnesses for interrogation in 6 appointments, while the defendants had prepared 92 witnesses in 18 appointments. However witness interrogation is allowed to proceed without the 44 defendants attending.

- ThaiNews / 2009-03-03

[permanent_disorder]

Supreme Court to start witness investigation in rubber plant corruption case tomorrow

...

- ThaiNews / 2009-03-03

does that photo appear together with the quoted News report on it's original source?

[hammered]

OK

22.15 baht

charged to every living Thai person to finance this

tree program that was not giving out good trees.

Who got most of the money???

Seems like they stole the lunch of every Thai person on the same day.

The tree was bought from CP (ring a bell? non MP minister?)

The project was headed by Newin (ring a bell? TRT banned #x and Apbisit allies)

Ah but that was when CP and Newin could be counted in the TRT column.

Today I heard the UN were considering not moving forward on human rights and war crimes charges on the leader of Sudan if they came on board with the west. Amazing what swapping sides can lead to in real politik. Still it remains to be seen in the Thai case if they will be as politcally accomodating as in the UN case. However, in politcs deal sget struck. But deals dont get struck with everyone.

[sriracha john]

Court Begins Hearing on Rubber Sapling Fraud

The first prosecution witnesses in the corruption trial involving the controversial purchase of 90 million rubber saplings by the Thaksin government took the stand at the Supreme Court today.

Former member of the now-defunct Assets Examination Committee Banjerd Singkhanati testified as a witness for the plaintiff, the National Counter Corruption Commission, before the court for the controversial purchase of 90 million rubber saplings by the Thaksin government.

The commission has lodged corruption charges against 44 people allegedly involved in the 1.4 billion-baht procurement of 90 million rubber saplings initiated by the government of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Among those indicted are former Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusriphithak, former Deputy Finance Minister Warathep Rattanakorn, and former Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchob.

Somkid also served as Chairman of the Farmer Assistance Committee.

The accused are charged with malfeasance and violating laws regarding the bidding process for state agencies.

Newin attended the hearing today, but did not testify or give interviews. The defendants are not required to be in court during the proceedings.

The court has scheduled six hearings to hear testimony from 25 witnesses for the prosecution, and 18 hearings to hear the testimony of 92 witnesses for the defendants. The first defense witnesses are scheduled to be called on May 12.

- TOC / 2009-03-04

[bungy007]

The fat lady may not be singing yet but she is most certainly humming the lyrics to the song.

Maybe she's getting ready to serve her time for her conviction as well.

[sriracha john]

Newin testifies in rubber sapling case

Newin Chidchob Tuesday testified in his defence that in the capacity of the then deputy agriculture minister, he was not involved in the funding of the rubber sapling project linked to irregularities, although he conceived the project as a handout for farmers in the Northeast.

The Nation - Thailand's English news - 3 minutes ago

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9j8eu50RglKvSAB...er-sapling-case