TDRI says corruption in rice scheme exceeds 450 billion baht

[webfact]

TDRI says corruption in rice scheme exceeds 450 billion baht



BANGKOK: -- Corruption plagues the government’s rice pledging scheme in almost every step with damages during the past two years since the implementation of the scheme now exceeds over 450 billion baht.

The huge corruption figure was exposed by an academic of Thailand Development Research Institute at a seminar to reform the country’s prevention and suppression of corruption for sustainable success.

The TDRI academic Mr Niphon Puapongsakorn said the rice pledging scheme engaged corruption in every step of the scheme. It brought about damage which no one would lodge complaint because it engaged conflict of interest.

Throughout the past two years when the scheme was implemented, he said it inflicted damages of over 380 billion baht, excluding 45-75 billion baht damage

from the rice sale, adding total damage from corruption amounted to over 450 billion baht, or equivalent to 60% of total sum used for the rice-pledging scheme.

He said corruption still prevails through clandestine rice sale although the National Anti-Corruption Committee is undertaking investigation of several corruption cases involving the rice scheme.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/tdri-says-corruption-rice-scheme-exceeds-450-billion-baht/


-- Thai PBS 2014-04-02

[bangkokheat]

and while the rest of the thais struggle to make a living the fat cats are gorging them selves in a banquet of cash

[Songhua]

'no one would lodge a complaint because it engaged conflict of interest'

Don't worry Somchai, it'd go against my principles to dob you in - I've just taken 40 million off the top for myself. You won't say anything will you? Snort, snort.

[Pimay1]

Hopefully TDRI will give al the details to NACC.

[alfalfa19]

60% corruption? Looks like double the usual amount. Now it's coming back to bite them on the buttocks.

[ETatBKK]

this is an organised corruption in an infrastructure level, that taking % of GDP in the game. hmm . . . it is a culture, it is a business practice in everyday dealing.

NACC may able to spot a case or two, yet may not have the muscle to bring it back on to the track.

[NongKhaiKid]

YL wipes her fevered brow in relief and squeals " Thank Buddha, i thought it was worse than that ".

[meatboy]

but the 60,000 dollar question is,who if anybody is to blame?

mr.& mrs.nobody.

[slapout]

I think the 450 billion baht corruption figure is somewhat low, based on recent audit reports, ( using what little info could be choked out of the 5 ministries/groups involved) Once the shortages, storage, fumigation, police oversight, commerce inventory team cost,finance inventory, Ag bank inventorty, etc is added in, I think it will approach double this figure.

Then try to account for the monies received for what rice has gone out of government stockpile, including pre 2012 harvested rice and you have another nightmare.

The billion dollar question is, where did the 1 billion dollars, returned to the sand rat, pop up from? This government has been shuffling vast sums around since assuming office. What sector of the Thai population was short changed on this transaction?

[thesetat2013]

'no one would lodge a complaint because it engaged conflict of interest'

Don't worry Somchai, it'd go against my principles to dob you in - I've just taken 40 million off the top for myself. You won't say anything will you? Snort, snort.

He wont say anything because you know about the 60 million he took. Hence "conflict of interest"

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Old Man River]

60% corruption? Looks like double the usual amount. Now it's coming back to bite them on the buttocks.

Not quite half. It has been alleged at approx. 40% since YL took over.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[rebelplatoon]

I am deeply shocked. I thought this government and the red militia were on the side of the poor farmers? We are talking 450 BILLION here right? I am so confused. . Who is the elite and who are the poor again?

[Pikeybkk]

Well if they can calculate how much is missing through every level, then they can appropriate blame to all involved at every level. But will that happen....no

[lemonjelly]

Could've sorted out the Thai rail system and left a legacy for the future of Thailand with that kind of cash instead of implementing a popularist scheme to ensure the votes of the North and North-East.

[lemonjelly]

15 billion U.S dollars !!!!!

[moe666]

And the PMs wealth increased by 50million baht

[khwaibah]

And the PMs wealth increased by 50million baht

What about Mr. T?

[Gunna]

And the PMs wealth increased by 50million baht

That they know about. How much is stashed off shore, eg in Dubai, Hong Kong, Switzerland etc is anybody guess

[SoilSpoil]

This institute better takes out some kind of insurance, as grenades will be lobbed into their premises any moment!

[Bluespunk]

"total damage from corruption amounted to over 450 billion baht, or equivalent to 60% of total sum used for the rice-pledging scheme."

I'm no fan of the scheme and am sure there was a lot of corruption, but surely not 60%. That's insane, no one could be stupid enough to think they could get away with that level of criminality.

[SoilSpoil]

7000 baht per Thai, kids, grannies and non tax paying red shirts included!

[selftaopath]

I would BET that at LEAST half went to T.S.

[binjalin]

now exceeds over 450 billion baht

​he is a pupil of that great Mathematician Suthep right?

[Malone]

60% corruption? Looks like double the usual amount. Now it's coming back to bite them on the buttocks.

Not quite half. It has been alleged at approx. 40% since YL took over.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Still, Yingluck has raised the benchmark even further now to a minimum of 60% corruption skimming that will be difficult for future administrations to match.

She must be disappointed the infrastructure proposal was squashed as that would have landed the corrupt a staggering 1.3 TRILLION baht.

[binjalin]

"total damage from corruption amounted to over 450 billion baht, or equivalent to 60% of total sum used for the rice-pledging scheme."

I'm no fan of the scheme and am sure there was a lot of corruption, but surely not 60%. That's insane, no one could be stupid enough to think they could get away with that level of criminality.

for once we are in agreement

I hate all this "it's all there fault" ALL corruption on EITHER side should be exposed - I remember Abhisit was charged with rice corruption too - can't we take the politics OUT of corruption and condemn it ALL?

[madmitch]

Very poorly written/translated article (why don't they get a decent proof-reader?), and therefore it would not surprise me if there are elements of this which are wrong due to incorrect interpretation.

Even in Thailand, I don't believe that the figures quoted are possible.

Edited April 2, 2014 by madmitch

[likewise]

all these trials and hearings are just show, none of the bigwigs will actually get punished, this is Thainess we as simple foreigners cannot understand that .

[robblok]

"total damage from corruption amounted to over 450 billion baht, or equivalent to 60% of total sum used for the rice-pledging scheme."

I'm no fan of the scheme and am sure there was a lot of corruption, but surely not 60%. That's insane, no one could be stupid enough to think they could get away with that level of criminality.

for once we are in agreement

I hate all this "it's all there fault" ALL corruption on EITHER side should be exposed - I remember Abhisit was charged with rice corruption too - can't we take the politics OUT of corruption and condemn it ALL?

Yes convict all that are corrupt.. for now that is YL and those involved in this failed corrupt program. Yesterday there was a democrat senator that seemed to be corrupt and i was just as hard advocating there for jail time. I really hope they will get the guilty PTPers in this program and really punish them. (that its PTP is obvious as its a PTP program)

Once corruption is really attacked it will be less profitable for crooks to have a position in government and a lot of this fighting will end as there is less money involved. Convicting Taksin was a good thing but not harsh enough.. and they should have taken on others too. Examples must be made and then other convictions.

[Malone]

The rice scam corruption will worsen Thailand's CPI even further as Yingluck attempts to out-corrupt Somalia.

Thailand's Corruption Perception Index (CPI) worsens

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/709899-thailands-corruption-perception-index-cpi-worsens/

[KRS1]

"total damage from corruption amounted to over 450 billion baht, or equivalent to 60% of total sum used for the rice-pledging scheme."

I'm no fan of the scheme and am sure there was a lot of corruption, but surely not 60%. That's insane, no one could be stupid enough to think they could get away with that level of criminality.

not stupid...arrogant

rice = untraceable commodity