NACC to launch probe into criminal charges against Yingluck

[outsider]

Poor Poo... can't even shop in peace, can ya. Told you not to listen to your sack-of-slime big bro.

[Dogmatix]

Regarding the probe on corruption charges in connection with a government to government rice deal against former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyaphirom and former deputy commerce minister Poom Saraphol, Mr Vicha said that the investigation process would take 3-4 months because some of the accused are abroad.

Boonsong and Poom and the others (mainly from the Foreign Trade Dept) are toast without a shadow of a doubt. The NACC has very clear cut evidence that they falsified documents to make it look as if rice was being exported to China and that they authorized the sale to "exporters" at prices way below the pledging price to facilitate the exports at a profit. Later the rice was in fact sold in rigged auctions domestically and re-pledged to the government. Out of sheer greed and a desire to please the Boss these guys have effectively placed the nooses round the necks of farmers and kicked away the stools. They should face the same penalty.

For those who are abroad the NACC will ultimately conclude they agree with the charges, if they refuse to return to Thailand to defend themselves. I guess that Boonsong and Poom will take the gap before their criminal cases start as they have zero charge of being acquitted and will try to play the statute of limitations game and hope they live long enough to come back and the that the law is not changed in the meantime. Since they were only small potatoes in this scheme they will have trouble coming up enough cash to stay anywhere other than Cambodia. As they will be charged with common crimes of theft and corruption they will probably be extraditable which will also limit their movements.

Once the evidence against Boonsong, Poom and the other 13 is revealed the charges against Yingluck will gain more traction. It is notable that Boonsong was Yingluck's companion on her recent trip to Chiang Mai visit soothsayers to stave off further bad fortune. He needs their help even more urgently than she does.

[Crushdepth]

If some of the accused are "abroad", some of the accused won't be coming back.

[Thait Spot]

Anyone ever read the lyrics yo the Evita song sung by David Essex - Oh What a Circus?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Mitker]

"...six additional witnesses would be allowed to testify."

Would these be the additional witnesses they denied could testify on behalf of Yingluck or are these additional witnesses for the prosecution. Just curious.

So it isn't good enough that Yingluck has been ousted by a judicial coup because the DPRC didn't like the election outcome, nooo... now the NACC has to turn the knife a few more times. Let's put the little lady in jail because she happens to be the brother of Thaksin.

Little lady my arse.She took the job for one reason,and one reason only,to get Takkky and his money back.She failed in everything she did,because her corrupt brother was pulling the strings.Being PM has responcibilities,and now its time to face up,you do the bidding of a criminal and now its judgement day.I hope she hangs around to show she is a better person than her Pi chai.

I wouldn't say it was because T was pulling the strings; it's just that it was not her priority

Her mission was at another level and we know what it was about

At best, successful general or specific policies would have been mere side events compared to her (their) goals

[peecee]

She didn't have a dime transferred into her account. How can this be called corruption? Foreseeing substantial loss in the program is not good enough to convict her with the charges.

True. Of all the extreme corruption in Thailand, they chose to go after her. Totally unbiased...eh

I don't know if she's whiter than white, but it could be playing into the red's hands by the courts going after her. I would have thought her brothers past would be something thier leadership thought about before casting her into the arena. So if she is found guilty they will then have a martyr for the rank and file to avenge on the streets of Bangkok.

On the other hand, maybe the red's arn't that smart; time will tell!

[Robby nz]

Of the 878 billion spent on the rice scheme the audit office has estimated that 400 billion (and counting) has been lost. (see BP article today)

Where all that loss has gone has to be investigated for it is the countries and the people of the countries money that could have otherwise been spent on health, education, infrastructure and so many other things that need doing in this country.

It is certain that at least some and probably a major part has been syphoned off by corrupt means.

By putting herself in charge of the scheme as chair of the policy committee Yingluck has to answer how this was allowed to happen.

She may or may not have personally benefited financially or even known what was going on, as was apparently the case, for the initial charges against were for not doing the job of overseeing the scheme properly, or at all.

Now the corruption is being looked into, as it should and must be, and once again as the self appointed one in charge, the ex PM, comes into the spotlight.

[ratcatcher]

Of the 878 billion spent on the rice scheme the audit office has estimated that 400 billion (and counting) has been lost. (see BP article today)

Where all that loss has gone has to be investigated for it is the countries and the people of the countries money that could have otherwise been spent on health, education, infrastructure and so many other things that need doing in this country.

It is certain that at least some and probably a major part has been syphoned off by corrupt means.

By putting herself in charge of the scheme as chair of the policy committee Yingluck has to answer how this was allowed to happen.

She may or may not have personally benefited financially or even known what was going on, as was apparently the case, for the initial charges against were for not doing the job of overseeing the scheme properly, or at all.

Now the corruption is being looked into, as it should and must be, and once again as the self appointed one in charge, the ex PM, comes into the spotlight.

Ignorantia juris non excusat or maybe, ignorance is bliss.

[bander]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

She didn't have a dime transferred into her account. How can this be called corruption? Foreseeing substantial loss in the program is not good enough to convict her with the charges.

Do you really think she is stupid enough to transfer corruption money to her bank account? When I think of it...YES

[bander]

No need to make a big deal out of this scandal, she will never face jail time anyway, The Shinawatra Clan have found a country that welcome rich convicted criminals, just pack your bags and book a ticket Yingluck

[issanaus]

She didn't have a dime transferred into her account. How can this be called corruption? Foreseeing substantial loss in the program is not good enough to convict her with the charges.

The transfer of funds to her (and or her families) accounts is not the only or more likely corrupt outcome. Power, influence and money are all ways interchangeable especially in Thailand. If the scheme was used to reward supporters other than those who were supposed to be the beneficiary of the scheme that can be considered to be corruption, So for example if commissions were paid to parties where there was no economic justification then that would be corruption.

If the only corrupt activates was the direct transfer of funds then countries around the world would not need anti-corruption commissions because they could rely on normal criminal proceedings.

[webfact]

NACC to Probe Yingluck's Compensation to Protest Victims
By Khaosod English


Payao Akhard, mother of a volunteer nurse killed in the 2010 crackdown, receives compensation money from a government representative in a ceremony in Bangkok, 24 May 2012

BANGKOK — Thailand's national anti-graft body has begun investigating the compensation funds given to victims of political protests over the past decade by the former government toppled in the 22 May coup.

Panthep Klanarongran, chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), said a committee has been tasked with investigating former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her entire cabinet over the compensation program.

In 2012, Yingluck’s administration approved a program that awarded financial compensation to people affected by the waves of political unrest that rocked Thailand between 2005 and 2010. The money was given to individuals who were disabled or injured by the violence, as well as the relatives of those who died in the unrest.

According to Panthep, 524 individuals were compensated under the scheme, totaling 577 million baht of state money. The NACC is now seeking to determine whether the program was rigged in favor of the Redshirts, the political faction who supported the Yingluck government.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1425541784&section=11&typecate=06


-- Khaosod English 2015-03-05

[Pimay1]

The NACC is now seeking to determine whether the program was rigged in favor of the Redshirts, the political faction who supported the Yingluck government.

Just because the lapdog red shirt leaders became millionaires supporting the YL government and some of them ended up in the YL government, how could anyone think the program was rigged in favor of the Redshirts?

Witch hunt I tell you, a witch hunt.

[scorecard]

She didn't have a dime transferred into her account. How can this be called corruption? Foreseeing substantial loss in the program is not good enough to convict her with the charges.

'She didn't have a dime transferred to her account'.

So I guess you have total access to every detail of her banking records. How sweet.

But ultimately a rather silly statement. She's not bright, that seems to be clear, but I doubt she would be silly enough and/or more to the point I doubt the trough managers would be silly enough to allow any siphoned funds to be showing in her personal banking.

Are there other means of 'holding' such funds? Of course there are and there can be little doubt her 'troops' would know numerous methods (transferring and holding) both in Thailand plus 'methods' to get funds outside of Thailand that are legal, and a little bit / and very illegal.

Would that stop them? No!

[klauskunkel]

sometimes a look speaks out loud...

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

She didn't have a dime transferred into her account. How can this be called corruption? Foreseeing substantial loss in the program is not good enough to convict her with the charges.

'She didn't have a dime transferred to her account'.

So I guess you have total access to every detail of her banking records. How sweet.

But ultimately a rather silly statement. She's not bright, that seems to be clear, but I doubt she would be silly enough and/or more to the point I doubt the trough managers would be silly enough to allow any siphoned funds to be showing in her personal banking.

Are there other means of 'holding' such funds? Of course there are and there can be little doubt her 'troops' would know numerous methods (transferring and holding) both in Thailand plus 'methods' to get funds outside of Thailand that are legal, and a little bit / and very illegal.

Would that stop them? No!

Ever heard of cash? Gifts? Do you remember the box of donuts Taksin tried to have delivered to the judges hearing one of his many corruption cases?

Do you remember hearing about the transport minister with BILLIONS stashed in the walls of his house? As well as many other politicians doing the same? (yes on all sides)

Point here is, take your biased head out of your back door and engage your brain before you start typing.

Corruption money doesn't need to go into your bank account!!!

[Alwyn]

She didn't have a dime transferred into her account. How can this be called corruption? Foreseeing substantial loss in the program is not good enough to convict her with the charges.

True. Of all the extreme corruption in Thailand, they chose to go after her. Totally unbiased...eh

Maybe because she was the PM? She was the head of her government, wasn't she? Isn't she ultimately responsible for what happens. And you call this unbiased?

She was the Prime Minister, decision made. It's not acceptable try to go back in time and investigate every decision made while she was PM. The point is they are not going back and pulling apart every decision Abhasit (for example) made to see if they can arrest him are they? Prayuth of course, is immune as he's changed the constitution so he cannot be arrested at any time in the future but hey ho, not a witch hunt right?