Thaksin aide jailed for rice fraud

[Lite Beer]

Thaksin aide jailed for rice fraud
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Samut Prakarn provincial court Tuesday sentenced a close aide to ex-pm Thaksin Shinawatra to six years in jail and fined him Bt12,000 after finding him guilty of embezzlement and fraud for his failure to deliver a Bt200-million rice shipment to Iran.

The defendant, 50-year-old Apichat Chansakunporn, alias Sia Pieng, managing director of President Agri Co Ltd, and a close Thaksin aide, was prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney-General on embezzlement charges.

The court was told they took place during the Yingluck government when his company failed to deliver 20,000 tonnes of 5 per cent broken rice destined for Iran.

The court said the defendant violated the contract signed with the Commerce Ministry and embezzled the rice after his company sold the 20,000 tonnes of rice, which his company was obligated to deliver to Iran, to another country.

-- The Nation 2014-06-24

[Cuchulainn]

Som nam naa you cheating slag!!! Another red cheat where he belongs!!

[EyesWideOpen]

He will be the first of many many people to face justice for their part in

the rice scam. I never thought this day would come, I am happy beyond words.

Prayuth has done more for this country in one month than the " leaders"

have done in twenty years .But I guess when all your time is spent in

figuring out new ways to loot money from the government, must not be

a lot of time left over in help improve the lives of the common people...

Next up ??? The big fish, Yingluck.... Too bad Thaksin is beyond

the reach of the Thai courts, as I believe he is the one that set the

whole scam up.

Edited June 24, 2014 by EyesWideOpen

[winstonc]

isnt this the same dog whose just got bail ..

[Cuchulainn]

He will be the first of many many people to face justice for their part in

the rice scam. I never thought this day would come, I am happy beyond words.

Prayuth has done more for this country in one month than the " leaders"

have done in twenty years .But I guess when all your time is spent in

figuring out new ways to loot money from the government, must not be

a lot of time left over in help improve the lives of the common people...

Well said.

[MAJIC]

I would like to believe he will be the first of many prosecuted for rice fraud? but one is better than none!

[Thailand]

Made a deal with Iran and then sold it to another country?

Pretty damned dumb and six years and THB12000 fine seems very light.

Stupidity alone should qualify for 10 years + a fine in the millions? what am I missing?

[seajae]

6 years and 12000 baht, bit on the light side financially, should have cleaned out his bank account but at least he was given jail. Lets hope this continues to all the other scammers that the ptp allowed to get away.

[Bluespunk]

How on earth did he think he'd get away with this? Dumber than a sack of rocks.

[jpeg]

isnt this the same dog whose just got bail ..

Yes, it is. http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thaksins-aide-gets-six-years-jail/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=thaksins-aide-gets-six-years-jail

But don't let that stop the rest of them clapping like seals without exercising some much needed caution in this addled country.

How're those mushroom pickers doing? Anyone know?

[UbonRatch]

6 years and 12000 baht, bit on the light side financially, should have cleaned out his bank account but at least he was given jail. Lets hope this continues to all the other scammers that the ptp allowed to get away.

I'd like to go and visit in him jail. Which one is it again?

[bangrak]

IMHO, the rates of the fines don't need to be changed, but instead of Bahts of money, just switch it over to (the value of) Bahts of gold, simple and efficient! It would also allow the Courts to adjust the fine to the offense, instead of most frequently charging the present ridiculous(ly low) maximum amounts...

[ggold]

isnt this the same dog whose just got bail ..

Yes, it is. http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thaksins-aide-gets-six-years-jail/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=thaksins-aide-gets-six-years-jail

But don't let that stop the rest of them clapping like seals without exercising some much needed caution in this addled country.

How're those mushroom pickers doing? Anyone know?

15 years for picking mushrooms. must have been the crime of the century! Sad state of Thai justice, there is none.

And if he really got bail, Then forget what ever is happening politically at the moment, normal service will resume after the coup!

If nothing changes, nothing will change.

[snottgoblin]

How on earth did he think he'd get away with this? Dumber than a sack of rocks.

Pure arrogance like most of The Rouge element.

[EyesWideOpen]

6 years and 12000 baht, bit on the light side financially, should have cleaned out his bank account but at least he was given jail. Lets hope this continues to all the other scammers that the ptp allowed to get away.

I'd like to go and visit in him jail. Which one is it again?

No need to look for his jail, apparently he is out on bail . Thai justice is a bit confusing to

me. In the real world, if you are charged with a crime, you post bail and fight the charges.

When you are found guilty, you go straight from the courthouse in your orange jumpsuit

to jail. Maybe even Prayuth cannot break the system here where the elites never really

go to jail..... No wonder they have no fear of breaking the law.

[Thailand]

How on earth did he think he'd get away with this? Dumber than a sack of rocks.

Pure arrogance like most of The Rouge element.

It's not limited to color or persuasion here it's ingrained in the psyche.

[worgeordie]

How on earth did he think he'd get away with this? Dumber than a sack of rocks.

Been a close aid to Thaksin ,he though he could get away with anything

just like his boss.

!2,000 bht fine,that would not even cover court costs and will he ever see

the inside of a cell ?

regards worgeordie

[ramrod711]

How on earth did he think he'd get away with this? Dumber than a sack of rocks.

With the government that was in power he wasn't concerned about getting caught. This shows what an atmosphere of lawlessness prevailed under Shin rule.

[LuckyLew]

How on earth did he think he'd get away with this? Dumber than a sack of rocks.

Do not insult the sack of rocks by comparing them to this person

[FritsSikkink]

The company has to pay 200 million:

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/president-agri-ordered-pay-state-200-million-baht-compensation/

[moe666]

6 years and 12000 baht, bit on the light side financially, should have cleaned out his bank account but at least he was given jail. Lets hope this continues to all the other scammers that the ptp allowed to get away.

I'd like to go and visit in him jail. Which one is it again?

No need to look for his jail, apparently he is out on bail . Thai justice is a bit confusing to

me. In the real world, if you are charged with a crime, you post bail and fight the charges.

When you are found guilty, you go straight from the courthouse in your orange jumpsuit

to jail. Maybe even Prayuth cannot break the system here where the elites never really

go to jail..... No wonder they have no fear of breaking the law.

Even in the land of harsh justice the US you can be out on bail during appeal

Edited June 24, 2014 by moe666

[jope]

He will be the first of many many people to face justice for their part in

the rice scam. I never thought this day would come, I am happy beyond words.

Prayuth has done more for this country in one month than the " leaders"

have done in twenty years .But I guess when all your time is spent in

figuring out new ways to loot money from the government, must not be

a lot of time left over in help improve the lives of the common people...

Next up ??? The big fish, Yingluck.... Too bad Thaksin is beyond

the reach of the Thai courts, as I believe he is the one that set the

whole scam up.

I have this question: why is that verdict the result of Prayuths activities? Did the police investigation and then the prosecution start immediately after he "took over"? I am assuming that a crime of this proportion needs quite a bit of investigation and the preparation of the prosecution is not done in 30 minutes (at least when it is supposed to meet certain standards of justice). Furthermore the Thai courts have not been known for being fond of Thaksin, have they? So, Prayuth successful?

Edited June 24, 2014 by jope

[snottgoblin]

How on earth did he think he'd get away with this? Dumber than a sack of rocks.

Pure arrogance like most of The Rouge element.

It's not limited to color or persuasion here it's ingrained in the psyche.

Agreed that it is almost a pre requisite for anyone who is attached to politics here.

[pmugghc]

How on earth did he think he'd get away with this? Dumber than a sack of rocks.

I think you miss one thing: the environment at that time. He was untouchable, like all the other "aides" to the former government.

[ChrisY1]

Just wait......I'm sure that there'll be an appeal......if not, then I'll be surprised and have renewed faith in the justice system

[jope]

Just wait......I'm sure that there'll be an appeal......if not, then I'll be surprised and have renewed faith in the justice system

Why shouldn't there be an appeal? I certainly would appeal. Wouldn't you, if you were sentenced to 6 Years in prison?

Edited June 24, 2014 by jope

[Gunna]

How on earth did he think he'd get away with this? Dumber than a sack of rocks.

Maybe because Thaksin told him by the time any one found out he would be back in power and have any charges swept under the carpet.

Hopefully his next contract will be one on Thaksin

[AleG]

How on earth did he think he'd get away with this? Dumber than a sack of rocks.

Maybe because Thaksin told him by the time any one found out he would be back in power and have any charges swept under the carpet.

Hopefully his next contract will be one on Thaksin

I believe this crime would had been covered whitewashed by the "Amnesty" Bill.

[Misterwhisper]

And once again I am shaking my head in bewildered disbelief how randomly Thailand's courts seem to derive sentences.

This man embezzled 200 million Baht worth of rice and got slapped with a mere 6 years and a ridiculous fine of 12,000 Baht, while just last week former catwalk model "Yuyee" got 15 years in the slammer plus a fine of 1.5 million Baht for possessing the microscopic amount of 250 milligrams (that's one quarter of a gram, folks!) of cocaine.

I believe that punishment should fit the crime. But when I compare sentences like these two, my mind just boggles.

Sometimes it seems Thai judges pull their sentences out of a hat.

[tomyummer]

For a reduced sentence, start singing the canary's tune! Implicate your 'boss' and the other stooges!