Thailand's Nacc To Probe Rice-Deal Charges

[webfact]

NACC to probe rice-deal charges

The Nation

Boonsong focus of inquiry; second panel to investigate PM, Sukampol over appointment of Defence permanent secretary

BANGKOK: -- The national anti-graft agency yesterday resolved to investigate the opposition's allegations of corruption against Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and of malfeasance against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Defence Minister ACM Sukampol Suwannathat.

Two subcommittees were set up yesterday to separately probe the allegations, which were included in a petition submitted by a group of Democrat MPs, according to Klanarong Chantik, spokesman for the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

One of the panels will look into the allegation that the commerce minister condoned corruption in an allegedly fraudulent deal to sell rice to the Chinese government. The other subcommittee will probe the allegation that the defence minister and the prime minister failed to abide by the law in the recent appointment of the permanent secretary for defence.

In last week's censure debate against the PM and three other Cabinet members, opposition Democrat MPs produced video clips, photos and other pieces of evidence to prove their claim that the government's controversial rice price-pledging project was abused to benefit certain people allegedly connected to the government.

Democrat MP Warong Dechgitvigrom alleged during the censure debate that Thailand's supposed government-to-government deal to sell rice to China did not exist. He said that in fact rice was bought from government stock at market price, to be resold to the government project at subsidised price.

The Democrats also produced an audio recording to prove their claim that the defence minister interfered with the appointment of the permanent secretary. In the recording the minister apparently informs a meeting of top military commanders of his preferred candidate, although the law states that the choice must be made collectively by a council of armed forces chiefs.

Klanarong said yesterday that the probe into the rice scheme would initially focus on Boonsong only, and would be widened if other people were found to be involved.

"Based on the evidence we have, the investigation now will only cover the [commerce] minister. But if the investigation leads to more people, we will expand the scope of investigation," said Klanarong, who is also a commissioner of the NACC.

An NACC source said the evidence so far does not point to Yingluck in her capacity as head of government. "With the existing evidence, it is not possible to prove that there were irregularities involving the rice project because the prime minister abetted it or was negligent," the source said.

The NACC yesterday also instructed its staff to gather information about the opposition's other allegations, such as the defence minister's "unfair" retroactive dismissal of opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva from the Army more than 20 years after his departure, according to the spokesman. He added that the findings would be reported to the anti-graft commissioners at their next meeting.

In a related development, Warong yesterday submitted his written request that the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) investigate possible money laundering involving the allegedly fraudulent rice-sale deal linked to certain individuals and businesses.

AMLO deputy secretary-general Suwanee Sawangphol, who received Warong's petition, said the agency would strictly follow the law in dealing with the matter, adding that she did not expect political interference into the AMLO probe.

-- The Nation 2012-12-05

[Moruya]

I can hear the sound of chickens flapping. Not unusual here in the moo baan.

Bung fai later today as Wang Saphung celebrates the King's birthday.

[asiawatcher]

About bloody time...

[Bluespunk]

It's squeaky bottom time in government offices and it's not crappy airline coffee that may be about to hit the fan (though the flavours may resemble each other). Massive red demo to commerate some non event anyone? Your leaders need a diversion.

[clockman]

Nothing will happen, Courts, probes, investigations, how many times? Just except this as a moraly bankrupt country!

[FarangTalk]

Nothing will happen, Courts, probes, investigations, how many times? Just except this as a moraly bankrupt country!

This.

[nakhonandy]

Nothing will happen, Courts, probes, investigations, how many times? Just except this as a moraly bankrupt country!

This.

To be morally bankrupt the politicians would have had to have morals in the first place!

[waza]

Nothing will happen, Courts, probes, investigations, how many times? Just except this as a moraly bankrupt country!

This.

To be morally bankrupt the politicians would have had to have morals in the first place!

The moral standards of PTP reflect those of their master.........".....Thaksin was referring to a remark by Phusadee Tamthai, a member of the opposition who called on the prime minister to take action against Pheu Thai MP for Surin Prasit Chaisrisa, who made a sexist remark during the debate.Ms Phusadee said that as a woman, Ms Yingluck should condemn Mr Prasit's behaviour: "If someone said he dreamed about sleeping with the prime minister, would she stand for it?" Ms Phusadee said in the debate.Mr Prasit was accused of sexual harassing Democrat MP Rangsima Rodrassamee.During the particularly heated exchange, Mr Prasit retorted, "What would Ms Rangsima say if I said that in my dream I slept with her?".Thaksin, referring to Ms Phusadee's remark, said: "Our female MPs didn't react when the opposition made a remark about someone dreaming that he slept with the prime minister."

Edited December 5, 2012 by waza

[khunken]

Quote:

AMLO deputy secretary-general Suwanee Sawangphol, who received Warong's petition, said the agency would strictly follow the law in dealing with the matter, adding that she did not expect political interference into the AMLO probe

This is the organisation that Thaksin used to 'investigate' a whole swathe of opponents when he was legally in power. So, I wouldn't hold out much hope of a 'follow the law' result.

[Rancid]

NACC to investigate eh, sort of like the bank owned and paid for Securities Regulator investigating bank fraid in the US, nothing of consequence will ever happen, or might BBQ a small fry to be seen to be doing something. So...business as usual.