Deputy Prime Minister Niwatthamrong ready to testify in PM Yingluck’s defence

[webfact]

Niwatthamrong ready to testify in PM’s defence



BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisarn said Tuesday that he was confident he would be able to defend caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra before the National Anti-Corruption Commission against the accusation of negligence of duty concerning the rice pledging scheme.

He denied that there was corruption in the populist scheme. Nor did two million tonnes of rice went missing as claimed by the NACC spokesman Vicha Mahakhun.

Mr Niwatthamrong said he had prepared all the relevant information needed to testify to the NACC in defence of Ms Yingluck, be it information about the rice distribution, rice pledging scheme and financial matters.

As for the suggestion that the scheme should be scrapped, he said that even the prime minister could not do away with the scheme.

Regarding the two million tonnes of rice said to have gone missing as claimed by Mr Vicha, Mr Niwatthamrong said that rice in question had not disappeared but the rice miller did not record the amount in the book and, therefore, would be held accountable.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/niwatthamrong-ready-testify-pms-defence/


-- Thai PBS 2014-04-08

[bkkjames]

That's the defence, the rice miller did it in the warehouse with the broken pen?

[tomross46]

Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisarn, can be trusted, he is from the government, and all government officials can be trusted. They are only there to help the people. If you do not believe me ask the Big Brother in Dubai!

Edited April 8, 2014 by metisdead
Bold font removed.

[winstonc]

shes going down if you get a tw-t like that defending her...and only now they have all the details..bet the nacc have the real ones though..

[dickyknee]

Regarding the two million tonnes of rice said to have gone missing as claimed by Mr Vicha, Mr Niwatthamrong said that rice in question had not disappeared but the rice miller did not record the amount in the book and, therefore, would be held accountable.

AKA fraud.

Did he just admit they knew there was fraud in the scheme and the head of the rice committee has done nothing about it?

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[AleG]

So... there's no corruption or rice missing, moreover the 2 million tons missing is because a miller cooked the books and he is sure his testimony will prove there's nothing untoward going on with the scheme.

I guess Kittirat is the smart one of the bunch, running away from this debacle.

[Robby nz]

As for the suggestion that the scheme should be scrapped, he said that even the prime minister could not do away with the scheme.

I presume that means that only Thaksin can.

[dcutman]

This guy is gonna be the next NACC investigation over yet another fake rice deal with China. You would think Yinglucks lawyers could find more credible witnesses for her defense. OOOPs maybe not seems everybody in her cabinet past and present is either a criminal out on bail or has corruption allegations pending.

[WoopyDoo]

This guy is gonna be the next NACC investigation over yet another fake rice deal with China. You would think Yinglucks lawyers could find more credible witnesses for her defense. OOOPs maybe not seems everybody in her cabinet past and present is either a criminal out on bail or has corruption allegations pending.

He already is under investigation by the NACC.... his own day will come.

I suppose this will be a dry run for him.

[chotthee]

shes going down if you get a tw-t like that defending her...and only now they have all the details..bet the nacc have the real ones though..

Cheque in the mail.

[NongKhaiKid]

I have no idea if Thai courts administer any form of oath in order to bind a witness to the truth but in this case may I suggest

" I swear by Almighty Buddha that the evidence i will give in this court will be the truth, the whole truth and NOTHING LIKE THE TRUTH ".

[Thait Spot]

200,000 trucks of rice went missing?

Nobody signed for them?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[tezzainoz]

Is he a witness for Yingluck

Or a witness for the prosecuter

He seems not to be on her side

best he just keep his big mouth shut

But that is impossibe as he has his leg inside it

[Tatsujin]

The monkeys are in charge of the zoo. What a <deleted> joke.

[Nickymaster]

What a joker. Even the Red shirts on this forum wouldn't believe him. (I guess)

[Scamper]

" As for the suggestion that the scheme should be scrapped, he said that even the prime minister could not do away with the scheme. "

And she can't testify either, apparently. It seems there's a lot Yingluck can't do. It's almost inevitable that it would come to this. They've come up with someone to impersonate Yingluck, think like her, act like her. They've discounted the efforts to prepare Surapong in drag. ( Didn't work ). So now this. What a charade. A court where you can get someone else to speak on your behalf. Pheu Thai has reinvented the whole history of jurisprudence. Just get a fill-in. A doppelganger. It's also fascinating, isn't it, that they just announce this through the media ? Did any reporter do his job and ask the key question - " What does the NACC say about this ? " Or - " Can they find a fill-in substitute witness for Kittaratt, as well ? " Or - " And if so, will his valet do ? " Why does Pheu Thai think they can just switch witnesses without consulting the NACC ? Don't tell me Ko Tee has joined Yingluck's legal team.

" Regarding the two million tonnes of rice said to have gone missing as claimed by Mr Vicha, Mr Niwatthamrong said that rice in question had not disappeared but the rice miller did not record the amount in the book and, therefore, would be held accountable. "

Is this a preview sample of the quality testimony this man will provide ? The NACC must be rolling over with the sheer amateurishness of it.

Edited April 8, 2014 by Scamper

[marcusd]

As for the suggestion that the scheme should be scrapped, he said that even the prime minister could not do away with the scheme.

Firstly, why can the scheme not be scrapped? I do not see any arguments that it is so good for the people and country... not from anyone to date

Regarding the two million tonnes of rice said to have gone missing as claimed by Mr Vicha, Mr Niwatthamrong said that rice in question had not disappeared but the rice miller did not record the amount in the book and, therefore, would be held accountable.

Well this is not acceptable. It is not a few packets from Tops supermarket is it? They know that a few pen marks in a book does not account for a massive pile of rice missing. a few birdies would be really fat if they ate it. Nah something stinks here for sure.

[rubl]

2013-06-05

"When asked repeatedly, the PM said: "I told you, that those responsible for finding out the [actual] figures associated with the scheme will make them public later." Asked if the scheme losing such a huge amount would affect her as prime minister, she said "Enough!", and walked off."

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/644328-rice-pledging-scheme-how-much-have-we-lost-yingluck-asks/

[dcutman]

That was a great article and put a spot light on many issues that have never come out, and still haven't.

How much have we lost? Yingluck asks
The Nation

Flustered PM orders commerce minister to reveal details of rice-pledging scheme to ratings agency

BANGKOK: -- The government yesterday ordered immediate verification of the status of the rice-pledging scheme in a bid to determine its profitability - and counter a warning by Moody's rating agency that the controversial policy could hurt the Thai economy and cause a downgrade of its credit rating.

During the Cabinet meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra instructed Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom to reveal the details of the scheme's operating costs, now reportedly a massive loss of Bt260 billion.

The government was grilled about the scheme by the opposition in the 2014 budget bill debate last week.

During the debate, Boonsong said that the Bt260 billion loss, reportedly cited in an unofficial Finance Ministry report, associated with the scheme was groundless. But he did not produce any proof to support his claim.

Deputy Commerce Minister Natthawut Saikua was also ordered yesterday to help Boonsong with compilation and verification of the figures relating to the scheme. Prior to the Cabinet meeting, Yingluck appeared irritated by persistent questions by reporters about the figures, following the warning by Moody's on Monday.

When asked repeatedly, the PM said: "I told you, that those responsible for finding out the [actual] figures associated with the scheme will make them public later." Asked if the scheme losing such a huge amount would affect her as prime minister, she said "Enough!", and walked off.

Yingluck said she had ordered the Finance Ministry to closely follow up on Moody's statement and analyses, and prepare any information for the rating's agency if requested.

Natthawut, speaking after the Cabinet meeting, said Yingluck had approved his idea to launch a mobile public relations campaign to raise awareness of the rice-pledging scheme with farmers across the country. The first event would be held in Phitsanulok on Sunday (June 9).

Explanations would be given to farmers during the rally, while a compilation of details on the scheme would be collected. The Bt260 billion figure was likely to be inaccurate and calculated from a "misuse of criteria", he said.

The scheme would see around Bt140 billion in prospective returns, and still a huge amount of rice stockpiled in the government's custody. He said the Finance Ministry "refused to give the official figures to him" at his request, but he now wondered how a Democrat MP had acquired and posted the figures on his Facebook page.

A Commerce Ministry fact-finding to determine the figures had commenced as ordered by Yingluck, he said.

Commerce Ministry permanent secretary Watcharee Wimuktayon said on Monday, that without official details from the Finance Ministry, the Bt260 billion figure seemed exaggerated. She said the scheme spent around Bt600 million in two years' budget, plus a large amount before the Yingluck government took office.

'Figures classified'

She said rice left over and held by the government would be deducted from the Bt260 billion amount and the criteria used by the Finance Ministry committee on budget-closing responsible for the rice scheme would be studied on how it came up with such a figure.

Watcharee said had sought to get official figures from the committee, but was allegedly told the figures were classified, by order of Finance Ministry leaders.

A Pheu Thai source said a party meeting last weekend discussed economic issues faced by the Yingluck government and agreed to assign Weerawuth Wajjanaphukka, Boonsong's secretary, to make announcements on the government stance on Moody's warning this week. Weerawuth had failed to deliver, while Boonsong had also stayed silent over the issue, despite the Commerce Ministry being supposed to make clarifications to the public over the figures.

"The responsibility now rests with the Commerce Ministry, which has to try further if it cannot produce figures to counter the Finance Ministry," the source said.

Deputy Bank of Thailand governor Pongpen Ruengvirayudh said the warning by Moody's had affected Thailand's image, and if it downgraded Thailand's credit rating, this would affect domestic and overseas investment, plus mobilisation of capital by both the public and private sectors.

She said Moody's warning needed to be double-checked and balanced by actual figures on profitability of the rice scheme from the Commerce Ministry. "It's a responsibility of Thai authorities to give actual figures to Moody's," she noted.

[Baerboxer]

There now, this gentleman confirms what the caretaker PM/DM previously said "there is no corruption". Read his lips - "there is no corruption".

I'm sure he will be able to produce all the inventory records and financial transactions to support his statement. He will be able to account for all inventory, monetary receipts from sales, orders waiting delivery or payment etc. He will be able to explain why is predecessor and his deputy are being charged with corruption, why Arisman's missus's company allegedly appears to have forged documents regarding fraudulent rice export sales, and he will be able to show where all the money spent on the scheme has gone. No doubt he will be able to make new promises and vows on when the farmers will be paid.

What a refreshing change. Wonder if he knows Bill Clinton.

[rametindallas]

Regarding the two million tonnes of rice said to have gone missing as claimed by Mr Vicha, Mr Niwatthamrong said that rice in question had not disappeared but the rice miller did not record the amount in the book and, therefore, would be held accountable.

From his own mouth he just proved the NACC's case for them. If the government knew this miller 'cooked the books', as Khun Niwatthamrong stated, why didn't the government prosecute the miller? Is the miller an ally of Thaksin? Dereliction of duty for failing to prosecute known corruption. No doubt this case will be forwarded to the court and the Senate for prosecution of the PM. With friends like Khun N., who needs enemies?

[Countryman]

So he must be the best lier they have,so he got the job.

relax countryman

[Thai at Heart]

As we well know.

If it isn't written down and stamped in Thailand, it didn't happen. Things can appear and disappear with the stroke of a stamp.

[Thai at Heart]

If its 2mn tons over this last 3 years that is actually incredibly low. The mould loss could be triple that.

[jayjayjayjay]

Two million tons of rice don't just go missing, not even in dirty corrupt Thailand. Do any of the half bread TV posters have any concept of how much two million tons is. Having been heavily involved with the Australian Barley havest and board, our 8-10 million tons used to be the entire countries production. Two million tons... there are many little fibbies being told on both sides

[ratcatcher]

post deleted

Edited April 8, 2014 by ratcatcher

[Skywalker69]

That's the defence, the rice miller did it in the warehouse with the broken pen?

Must have been a hell of a broken pen.

[smedly]

From a previous TV thread

The government announced that the sale of stockpiled rice would be done under a G2G (government to government) arrangement via a Chinese company called GSSG Import & Export Corporation, whose sole appointed agent in Thailand is Mr. Natthanit Sojirakul, a.k.a. 'Palm' who is the personal assistant of Udonthani MP Rapheephan Phongrueangrong, wife of red shirt leader Arisman Phongrueangrong. (who is starting up his own airline at the moment)

Mr. Natthanit in turn issued a formal letter appointing as his representative Mr. Nimol Rakdee, who is the right hand man of Sia Piang.

It was Mr. Nimol Rakdee's job to purchase rice from the government under the G2G scheme via the Department of Foreign Trade. Sia Piang then takes the rice which was sold at a price below market rates due to the fact that there was no public auction as per G2G regulations, and sells them to the rice mills at market rates.

The government loses money once because Sia Piang pockets the difference between the G2G price and the market rates.

The rice mills then sell the rice back to the government, causing the government to lose money the twice because the government is obliged to buy the rice at 40% above the market rate.

It is not negligence or coincidence that causes the government to lose money in this way. More likely because Sia Piang is a close associate of Thaksin.

Selling the rice under a G2G scheme (to avoid a public tender) is actually a scheme to sell the rice to corporations belonging to people close to Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Thai people are looking for answers

[Thai at Heart]

Two million tons of rice don't just go missing, not even in dirty corrupt Thailand. Do any of the half bread TV posters have any concept of how much two million tons is. Having been heavily involved with the Australian Barley havest and board, our 8-10 million tons used to be the entire countries production. Two million tons... there are many little fibbies being told on both sides

They have bought how much over 3 years?

20 to 25mn tons per year. And they have reportedly how much in the warehouse? 20+ mm

2mn can disappear in moisture and processing yield.

[Thai at Heart]

From a previous TV thread

The government announced that the sale of stockpiled rice would be done under a G2G (government to government) arrangement via a Chinese company called GSSG Import & Export Corporation, whose sole appointed agent in Thailand is Mr. Natthanit Sojirakul, a.k.a. 'Palm' who is the personal assistant of Udonthani MP Rapheephan Phongrueangrong, wife of red shirt leader Arisman Phongrueangrong. (who is starting up his own airline at the moment)

Mr. Natthanit in turn issued a formal letter appointing as his representative Mr. Nimol Rakdee, who is the right hand man of Sia Piang.

It was Mr. Nimol Rakdee's job to purchase rice from the government under the G2G scheme via the Department of Foreign Trade. Sia Piang then takes the rice which was sold at a price below market rates due to the fact that there was no public auction as per G2G regulations, and sells them to the rice mills at market rates.

The government loses money once because Sia Piang pockets the difference between the G2G price and the market rates.

The rice mills then sell the rice back to the government, causing the government to lose money the twice because the government is obliged to buy the rice at 40% above the market rate.

It is not negligence or coincidence that causes the government to lose money in this way. More likely because Sia Piang is a close associate of Thaksin.

Selling the rice under a G2G scheme (to avoid a public tender) is actually a scheme to sell the rice to corporations belonging to people close to Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Thai people are looking for answers

The government buys unmilled rice. The rice is sold milled.

I think you might have your 40% and milled and unmilled mixed up.