Arrest warrants out for 3 suspects in Phichit rice fraud

[Lite Beer]

Arrest warrants out for 3 suspects in Phichit rice fraud
By Digital Media

PHICHIT, June 26 - Phichit Provincial Court on Wednesday approved arrest warrants for three persons allegedly involved in the disappearance of paddy from a warehouse.

Phichit provincial police deputy commander Pol Col Thawatchai Muannara said the three suspects were the owner of a rice mill, the managing director and a staff member. The three were charged with cheating farmers in the provincial seat, as well as Bang Mun Nak and Pho Thale districts.

Col Thawatchai said the accused rice mill did not deliver 4,000 tonnes of paddy worth nearly Bt50 million to the Marketing Organisation for Farmers (MOF), but the paddy disappeared from the warehouse.

Farmers in this central province earlier filed complaints with police, charging the rice mill with cheating them in its purchase of 4,000 tonnes of paddy.

They said they sold their paddy to the mill under the government’s rice pledging scheme but have yet to receive payment. They were only given papers certifying the total weight of paddy delivered to the rice mill. Each farmer incurred losses of Bt100,000-Bt500,000.

Police are also investigating another case of 7,200 tonnes of paddy in which another rice mill failed to deliver to the marketing agency.

It will take a couple of days to complete the investigation and police will ask the court to issue an arrest warrant for accomplices in the case.

Phichit governor Chakkarin Plienwong today also called a meeting with a provincial rice sub-committee to clarify the incident with 130 farmers.

He urged the farmers to file police complaints against the rice mill who cheated them in a 2,000 tonne rice purchase.

For farmers who became victims of the rice mills, the governor said, the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) will suspend their debt payment period for one year and will consider granting them additional loans for planting. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-06-26

[EyesWideOpen]

The rice scam is turning uglier by the day, time to round a few people up to keep the wolves at bay....

[Neilly]

Only three ...to spirit away 4,000t (was 8,000t yesterday ) you'll need a few more than that

[Pib]

Col Thawatchai said the accused rice mill did not deliver 4,000 tonnes of paddy worth nearly Bt50 million to the Marketing Organisation for Farmers (MOF), but the paddy disappeared from the warehouse.

Once caught, I can just hear the accused's reason right now: mice.

[soi41]

Isn't the governor a nice man ? Offering to lend the victims money (with interest ofcourse) so the can plant more rice, so the can pledge some more after the next harvest. They might/might not get paid.

Aren't we soon at the point, where even the most fanatic redshirt can see, what is going on??

[Pib]

Aren't we soon at the point, where even the most fanatic redshirt can see, what is going on??

Nope, not there yet....money makes you go blind.

[jmccarty]

The math is correct but the report is every where. Is it 4,000, the other 7,200 or 2,000 tonnes?

Maybe will figure out where the missing 2.5 million tonnes went a rice-grain at a time?

At least it looks like they are trying....for now!

[jbrain]

Only three ...to spirit away 4,000t (was 8,000t yesterday ) you'll need a few more than that

You're outdated, at the end of the article it went to 2000 Tonnes already.

Phichit governor Chakkarin Plienwong today also called a meeting with a provincial rice sub-committee to clarify the incident with 130 farmers.

He urged the farmers to file police complaints against the rice mill who cheated them in a 2,000 tonne rice purchase.

[jbrain]

I have such a feeling that the rice mill delivered their rice by mistake to the following warehouse

Meanwhile a rice warehouse under the government’s rice pledging programme in Ayutthaya province caught fire and burned on Monday night.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/649244-nationwide-rice-stocks-to-be-inspected-for-missing-25m-tons-from-thai-govt-stockpiles/

[TomTao]

Ok. thats three to the grinder, how many more will be found out? Is every mill doing the same? How far up does the cancer go? How many local government politicians are involved, and how many MPs are involved? I'm sure these three are just the first dominos to fall, lets see how far up the gravy train goes.

Edited June 26, 2013 by TomTao

[Thai at Heart]

I would hope that some of these farmers have a little more proof of the existence of their rice than a shonky piece of paper?

Did these 3 move it by hand or did they use a truck??

[WhizBang]

So there we have it. The rice scam corruption solved and the scapegoats identified.

Case closed.

[robenroute]

So there we have it. The rice scam corruption solved and the scapegoats identified.

Case closed.

That sounds rather cynical, Whiz. There are plenty of people in government positions that still care and have a heart too. Benefit of the doubt, you know... ;-)

[hellodolly]

So there we have it. The rice scam corruption solved and the scapegoats identified.

Case closed.

That sounds rather cynical, Whiz. There are plenty of people in government positions that still care and have a heart too. Benefit of the doubt, you know... ;-)

Yes I have heard that rumor also.

[NeverSure]

So there we have it. The rice scam corruption solved and the scapegoats identified tea money will be paid.

Case closed.

[NeverSure]

I still want to see the Ag Bank write off as losses all rice that's identified as missing. The rice is the collateral for the "revolving fund" loans and if it's missing it's a direct loss.

[Unkomoncents]

They said they sold their paddy to the mill under the government’s rice pledging scheme but have yet to receive payment. They were only given papers certifying the total weight of paddy delivered to the rice mill. Each farmer incurred losses of Bt100,000-Bt500,000.

If that's true, it's really, really unfortunate for these farmers. Tragic to see what happens to people who live in a country with a government that would sacrifice the posterity of its people for a ride in a pink Bentley. Thailand is for (lying, corrupt, lowlife) Thais.

[Robby nz]

For farmers who became victims of the rice mills, the governor said, the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) will suspend their debt payment period for one year and will consider granting them additional loans for planting. (MCOT online news)

So the bank will suspend the payments of interest on the loans they already have and give them more loans.

That means as well as being victims of the mills the farmers will now have more debt.

Victims X 2.

[Robby nz]

That which shall not be named is now calling it 12,000 tons.

And that is only in one province and one rice milling company, how many other rice growing provinces and milling companies are there in the country?

[jaltsc]

They have also issued arrest warrants for all 3 of the local police who have accepted tea money.

Edited June 26, 2013 by jaltsc

[Mosha]

Only three ...to spirit away 4,000t (was 8,000t yesterday ) you'll need a few more than that

You're outdated, at the end of the article it went to 2000 Tonnes already.

Phichit governor Chakkarin Plienwong today also called a meeting with a provincial rice sub-committee to clarify the incident with 130 farmers.

He urged the farmers to file police complaints against the rice mill who cheated them in a 2,000 tonne rice purchase.

Tomorrow it will be what rice?

[AleG]

Well well, how things change in a few months:

Commerce Ministry: No corruption in government rice deals

BANGKOK, March 22 – Thailand's Commerce Ministry today quashed allegations of corruption and gave a clean bill of correctness to the government’s rice trading activity during the last three years.

[chooka]

Ok. thats three to the grinder, how many more will be found out? Is every mill doing the same? How far up does the cancer go? How many local government politicians are involved, and how many MPs are involved? I'm sure these three are just the first dominos to fall, lets see how far up the gravy train goes.

These 3 will be enough to put the whole matter to bed, case closed so what's next on the agenda? A trip to Australia to meet the new P.M and a bit of shopping.

[metisdead]

If you do not want your post to be deleted, do not post in a profane manner. One post removed.

[stoli]

God bless the farmers. They work every day of the year just to survive, and now are going to lose everything. Beat up on the those that have the least.

[allan michaud]

That which shall not be named is now calling it 12,000 tons.

And that is only in one province and one rice milling company, how many other rice growing provinces and milling companies are there in the country?

Yes it's just the tip of the riceberg (sorry, couldn't resist).

Actually I read this appallingly written article as saying there was an initial 4,000 missing with a further 7,200 being investigated and that now there are other farmers complaining about a further 2,000. Whatever the figure, it's insignificant in terms of the overall national riceberg, which I believe now stands at 30+million tons.

[TackyToo]

Col Thawatchai said the accused rice mill did not deliver 4,000 tonnes of paddy worth nearly Bt50 million to the Marketing Organisation for Farmers (MOF), but the paddy disappeared from the warehouse.

Once caught, I can just hear the accused's reason right now: mice.

Copperfield did it!

[belg]

how difficult would it be to corrupt a warehouse owner, in signing papers that there was (fake) 10.000 tons of rice , collect the gov money and make it "stolen" and collect insurance on that ?

[aussieinthailand]

Isn't the governor a nice man ? Offering to lend the victims money (with interest ofcourse) so the can plant more rice, so the can pledge some more after the next harvest. They might/might not get paid.

Aren't we soon at the point, where even the most fanatic redshirt can see, what is going on??

I agree with most of what you said, but "redshirts" really? It's a theft, Thai's stealing and cheating Thai's, nothing about red's yellows or whatever colour shirts.

[aussieinthailand]

I wounder if the investergating officers are the same ones that that couldn't affect a search warrant for the illegal casino?