Ex-commerce minister’s secretary faces charges over fake G-to-G rice deals

[Lite Beer]

Ex-commerce minister’s secretary faces charges over fake G-to-G rice deals

BANGKOK: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has decided to lodge malfeasance and other criminal charges against former secretary of ex-commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom for alleged involvement in fake government-to-government rice deals with two Chinese state enterprises.

NACC spokesman Vicha Mahakhun said Friday that the graft-busting agency also decided to keep a group of people who were suspected to be involved in the scandal as witnesses because they have been cooperative with the investigators and have provided valuable information to the NACC.

Mr Vicha identified Mr Boonsong’s ex-secretary as Major Veeravuth Watjanapukka. He disclosed that after signing early last year of the bogus deals with a state enterprise in Guangdong and another in Hainan, rice traders were invited to the office of Veeravuth to be informed of the G-to-G rice deals and they were told to issue cashier check payable to the Foreign Trade Department and the check was to be given to Pol Maj Saravuth Sakulmeerith, former director of Public Warehouse Organistion.

All the people involved in these deals were linked to Siam Indiga company said, Mr Vicha.

After having received the checks for the rice deals, Mr Vicha said the PWO and the Marketing Organisation for Farmers notified Mr Somkid Oensupa, Mr Ratthanit Sojirakul and Mr Lit Pojai to arrange for the rice to be taken out of the warehouses supposedly to be shipped out to the two buyers in China but, actually, the rice shipments were locally distributed and were never exported.

The NACC spokesman said that the rice scandal did not just implicate former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra but involved many other people who would face charges in the foreseeable future.

Personally, he said he felt sorry for the Office of the Attorney-General for its decision to demand more evidences from the NACC before deciding whether to indict Ms Yingluck or not because the OAG was still shaken following the abrupt removal of the attorney-general by the National Council for Peace and Order .

“Frankly speaking we at the NACC are praying everyday for the attorney-general so he is safe,” said Mr Vicha, adding that he would like the OAG to indict Ms Yingluck but if not the NACC would take the case to the court itself.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ex-commerce-ministers-secretary-faces-charges-fake-g-g-rice-deals/

-- Thai PBS 2014-09-05

[fab4]

Personally, he said he felt sorry for the Office of the Attorney-General for its decision to demand more evidences from the NACC before deciding whether to indict Ms Yingluck or not because the OAG was still shaken following the abrupt removal of the attorney-general by the National Council for Peace and Order .

“Frankly speaking we at the NACC are praying everyday for the attorney-general so he is safe,” said Mr Vicha, adding that he would like the OAG to indict Ms Yingluck but if not the NACC would take the case to the court itself.

Hell hath no fury like a Vicha scorned.

This is his case against Yingluck;

"Based on our investigation, there are witnesses and documents indicating that Ms Yingluck, in her capacity as the prime minister and the chair of National Rice Committee, received a letter from the NACC involving corruption in the rice scheme. The NACC has grounds to believe she has failed to stop it and decided to press a formal charge of negligence of duty," he said.

http://www.thaitribune.org/en/health/112-english/breaking-news/1452-vicha-no-enemy-of-pm.html

Edited September 5, 2014 by fab4

[Robby nz]

Interesting that :

All the people involved in these deals were linked to Siam Indiga company said, Mr Vicha.

The bold, underlined bit in the following article is my doing.

BANGKOK, (Reuters) - A Thai court has sentenced a top rice trader believed to have close ties with former premier Thaksin Shinawatra to three years in jail for embezzling rice from state stockpiles.

An official at the district court in Samut Prakan province east of Bangkok said Apichart Chansakulporn, former owner of bankrupt President Agri Trading, was found guilty of failing to deliver 20,000 tonnes of rice to Iran after getting a mandate for the trade from the Commerce Ministry in 2007.

"The lower court handed down a verdict on Tuesday that Mr Apichart was guilty and sentenced him to three years in jail," the official said, declining to be identified as he was not authorised to speak to the press.

http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/2321/thai-rice-tycoon-jailed-for-3-years-for-state-stocks-embezzlement/

Edited September 5, 2014 by metisdead
14) You will not post any copyrighted material except as fair use laws apply (as in the case of news articles). Please only post a link, the headline and the first three sentences.

[ratcatcher]

"Not me" "Not us"

[rubl]

Personally, he said he felt sorry for the Office of the Attorney-General for its decision to demand more evidences from the NACC before deciding whether to indict Ms Yingluck or not because the OAG was still shaken following the abrupt removal of the attorney-general by the National Council for Peace and Order .

“Frankly speaking we at the NACC are praying everyday for the attorney-general so he is safe,” said Mr Vicha, adding that he would like the OAG to indict Ms Yingluck but if not the NACC would take the case to the court itself.

Hell hath no fury like a Vicha scorned.

This is his case against Yingluck;

"Based on our investigation, there are witnesses and documents indicating that Ms Yingluck, in her capacity as the prime minister and the chair of National Rice Committee, received a letter from the NACC involving corruption in the rice scheme. The NACC has grounds to believe she has failed to stop it and decided to press a formal charge of negligence of duty," he said.

http://www.thaitribune.org/en/health/112-english/breaking-news/1452-vicha-no-enemy-of-pm.html

Personally I can understand your barely suppressed anger. I mean, obviously Ms. Yingluck knew nothing,

She was only chairwoman of the National Rice Board, PM of her own, handpicked cabinet and as she stated during the last censure debate only she and no one else was in charge. How can she be 'only negligent' ? Between 500 and 700++billion Baht lost, but the PM obviously knowing nothing, being 'innocent as a babe', a cute one as well as some have it.

[fab4]

Personally I can understand your barely suppressed anger. I mean, obviously Ms. Yingluck knew nothing,

She was only chairwoman of the National Rice Board, PM of her own, handpicked cabinet and as she stated during the last censure debate only she and no one else was in charge. How can she be 'only negligent' ? Between 500 and 700++billion Baht lost, but the PM obviously knowing nothing, being 'innocent as a babe', a cute one as well as some have it.

Anger, No. Resignation, Yes. Thailand has been through this before, except last time the organ grinders monkey was called the AEC.

You'll keep on posting about 500++ or 700++ billion baht lost but at the end of the day that is what the rice price pledging scheme cost the State. It was not lost but of course that sounds sexier and implies 500++ or whatever lost to corruption.

Edited September 5, 2014 by fab4

[halloween]

Personally I can understand your barely suppressed anger. I mean, obviously Ms. Yingluck knew nothing,

She was only chairwoman of the National Rice Board, PM of her own, handpicked cabinet and as she stated during the last censure debate only she and no one else was in charge. How can she be 'only negligent' ? Between 500 and 700++billion Baht lost, but the PM obviously knowing nothing, being 'innocent as a babe', a cute one as well as some have it.

Anger, No. Resignation, Yes. Thailand has been through this before, except last time the organ grinders monkey was called the AEC.

You'll keep on posting about 500++ or 700++ billion baht lost but at the end of the day that is what the rice price pledging scheme cost the State. It was not lost but of course that sounds sexier and implies 500++ or whatever lost to corruption.

So if it's not lost, they should be able to tell the Thai people where it went.

[rubl]

Personally I can understand your barely suppressed anger. I mean, obviously Ms. Yingluck knew nothing,

She was only chairwoman of the National Rice Board, PM of her own, handpicked cabinet and as she stated during the last censure debate only she and no one else was in charge. How can she be 'only negligent' ? Between 500 and 700++billion Baht lost, but the PM obviously knowing nothing, being 'innocent as a babe', a cute one as well as some have it.

Anger, No. Resignation, Yes. Thailand has been through this before, except last time the organ grinders monkey was called the AEC.

You'll keep on posting about 500++ or 700++ billion baht lost but at the end of the day that is what the rice price pledging scheme cost the State. It was not lost but of course that sounds sexier and implies 500++ or whatever lost to corruption.

'organ grinders monkey' ? I guess the AEG is not the upcoming Asian Economic Community. Most likely you refer to the commission which looked into matters one did not dare look into when Thaksin was still PM?

Anyway, when a scheme which was presented as self-financing cost the State 500 - 700++ billion I think we may mention the "L" word. If it only 'cost' the Nation it sounds more like it having been planned. That can't be because Ms. Yingluck didn't know

[surangw]

the current scape goat

[tomacht8]

I hope the NACC pierced the net right on.
Why not praise a reward for information and evidence.
For each retrieved million, there are 10% for the tipster.

[rubl]

I hope the NACC pierced the net right on.

Why not praise a reward for information and evidence.

For each retrieved million, there are 10% for the tipster.

Plus a tonne of the finest quality rice government warehouses have to offer

[dru2]

Personally, he said he felt sorry for the Office of the Attorney-General for its decision to demand more evidences from the NACC before deciding whether to indict Ms Yingluck or not because the OAG was still shaken following the abrupt removal of the attorney-general by the National Council for Peace and Order .

“Frankly speaking we at the NACC are praying everyday for the attorney-general so he is safe,” said Mr Vicha, adding that he would like the OAG to indict Ms Yingluck but if not the NACC would take the case to the court itself.

Hell hath no fury like a Vicha scorned.

This is his case against Yingluck;

"Based on our investigation, there are witnesses and documents indicating that Ms Yingluck, in her capacity as the prime minister and the chair of National Rice Committee, received a letter from the NACC involving corruption in the rice scheme. The NACC has grounds to believe she has failed to stop it and decided to press a formal charge of negligence of duty," he said.

http://www.thaitribune.org/en/health/112-english/breaking-news/1452-vicha-no-enemy-of-pm.html

Predictable sycophancy. Give it up!

[tomacht8]

The Chinese firm paid Bt300 per sack of rice, rather than market price of Bt1,500-Bt1,555.
Taking this into account, the men in question would make a profit of Bt20 billion.

Mr Somkid Oensupa, Mr Ratthanit Sojirakul and Mr Lit Pojai to arrange for the rice to be taken out of the warehouses supposedly to be shipped out to the two buyers in China but, actually, the rice shipments were locally distributed and were never exported.

One involved the Bt500-million cashier's cheque issued by Somkid Ruansupa, who lives in a two-storey house in Bang Khae.

Further investigation showed that Nimon, Ruangwan and Somkid co-owned a Kasikornbank savings account No 001-0-03796-9. Bank records show money being transferred to this account in the morning and being withdrawn in the afternoon.

What a heist

[halloween]

The Chinese firm paid Bt300 per sack of rice, rather than market price of Bt1,500-Bt1,555.

Taking this into account, the men in question would make a profit of Bt20 billion.

Mr Somkid Oensupa, Mr Ratthanit Sojirakul and Mr Lit Pojai to arrange for the rice to be taken out of the warehouses supposedly to be shipped out to the two buyers in China but, actually, the rice shipments were locally distributed and were never exported.

One involved the Bt500-million cashier's cheque issued by Somkid Ruansupa, who lives in a two-storey house in Bang Khae.

Further investigation showed that Nimon, Ruangwan and Somkid co-owned a Kasikornbank savings account No 001-0-03796-9. Bank records show money being transferred to this account in the morning and being withdrawn in the afternoon.

What a heist

Well it should be obvious to all that neither the PM (and chair of the NRC) or the Commerce Minister knew anything about this shady deal - it was a all the secretary's doing. of course, he will probably claim he was only following orders; but he would, wouldn't he?

[FangFerang]

I wonder how they split the 265 million baht paycheck they wrote themselves?

"Two for me and one for you...three for me and one for you...four for me and none for you...."

I also fail to see how the article states YS was implicated. Was it because she hired these idiots? When Bush the Lesser was in office, a gay Republican was put in charge of overseeing programs to prevent child sexual exploitation, and was found to be cruising for boy Congressional pages (some of whom were underage at the time). Should Bush have been prosecuted? No -- every leader has to delegate almost everything. Evidence has to be concrete, not guilt by association. If not, my murderous nephew can land me in jail.

If she's guilty, I don't care. If she's not guilty, I don't care.

Also -- no one will ever convince me that Thaksin or his sister created the Thailand we see today. It's funny how people who are not affected by corruption are quick to pick sides and get emotional "I care about the Thai people being manipulated and ripped off!" Or "I pay taxes here and object!" Really, what crap in a pretty gift bag. . TIT, and we will never know all the facts. It's part of Thainess.

Nobody needs a crystal ball to see that once the junta is history (the 18th of course, no trends there), that things will slowly ratchet back up and there will be another coup. And when that happens, whoever is deposed will be the new lightning rod for farang electronic hate mail.

And I still won't care. This is their country. Like all of our home nations, they have the sovereign right to screw their country up in their own way and in their own time..

[halloween]

I wonder how they split the 265 million baht paycheck they wrote themselves?

"Two for me and one for you...three for me and one for you...four for me and none for you...."

I also fail to see how the article states YS was implicated. Was it because she hired these idiots? When Bush the Lesser was in office, a gay Republican was put in charge of overseeing programs to prevent child sexual exploitation, and was found to be cruising for boy Congressional pages (some of whom were underage at the time). Should Bush have been prosecuted? No -- every leader has to delegate almost everything. Evidence has to be concrete, not guilt by association. If not, my murderous nephew can land me in jail.

If she's guilty, I don't care. If she's not guilty, I don't care.

Also -- no one will ever convince me that Thaksin or his sister created the Thailand we see today. It's funny how people who are not affected by corruption are quick to pick sides and get emotional "I care about the Thai people being manipulated and ripped off!" Or "I pay taxes here and object!" Really, what crap in a pretty gift bag. . TIT, and we will never know all the facts. It's part of Thainess.

Nobody needs a crystal ball to see that once the junta is history (the 18th of course, no trends there), that things will slowly ratchet back up and there will be another coup. And when that happens, whoever is deposed will be the new lightning rod for farang electronic hate mail.

And I still won't care. This is their country. Like all of our home nations, they have the sovereign right to screw their country up in their own way and in their own time..

A fine blend of apathy and ignorance - you don't know (you don't even want to know) and you don't care.

You even think it's "funny" (ha ha or peculiar?) that some of us care when those in government steal funds which could otherwise benefit our families future. Hard to express moral indignation without morals.

[Baerboxer]

Siam Indiga - hmmmm. Now whose company is that?

[SOTIRIOS]

...as you can see from the article below.....people knew of the ruse as far back as 2012....and tried to have something done about it...

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Rice-deals-with-China-fake-opposition-claims-30195106.html

[PS2]

Anger, No. Resignation, Yes. Thailand has been through this before, except last time the organ grinders monkey was called the AEC.

You'll keep on posting about 500++ or 700++ billion baht lost but at the end of the day that is what the rice price pledging scheme cost the State. It was not lost but of course that sounds sexier and implies 500++ or whatever lost to corruption.

OK, lets check your numbers if you say the cost is 700 billion baht.

First they bought the rice at 40% overprice, 20 % to farmers, 20 % to red shirt politicians = Loss 280 billion.

10 % of rice in warehouses gone mysteriously = Loss 42 Billion.

78% of rice in warehouses is inferior quality= Loss 295 Billion.

Thai rice quality down the drain for a generation = Priceless.

Total loss so far = 617 Billion

Not so sexy, just sad, 8800 baht / Thai.

[Old Man River]

Personally I can understand your barely suppressed anger. I mean, obviously Ms. Yingluck knew nothing,

She was only chairwoman of the National Rice Board, PM of her own, handpicked cabinet and as she stated during the last censure debate only she and no one else was in charge. How can she be 'only negligent' ? Between 500 and 700++billion Baht lost, but the PM obviously knowing nothing, being 'innocent as a babe', a cute one as well as some have it.

Anger, No. Resignation, Yes. Thailand has been through this before, except last time the organ grinders monkey was called the AEC.

You'll keep on posting about 500++ or 700++ billion baht lost but at the end of the day that is what the rice price pledging scheme cost the State. It was not lost but of course that sounds sexier and implies 500++ or whatever lost to corruption.

Fab4:

If it was all above board as you say, why were they afraid to issue audited accounts? OK, forget audited accounts, why were they even afraid to issue unaudited accounts?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Edited September 6, 2014 by Old Man River

[fab4]

A fine blend of apathy and ignorance - you don't know (you don't even want to know) and you don't care.

You even think it's "funny" (ha ha or peculiar?) that some of us care when those in government steal funds which could otherwise benefit our families future. Hard to express moral indignation without morals.

Curious that for one who "cares" so much about "funds that could otherwise benefit our families future", you only joined this forum a week ago to express that "caring". Did you keep it all bottled up during the the year or so that the investigation was going on or have you just arrived in Thailand recently and assimilate quickly?

Edited September 6, 2014 by fab4

[fab4]

Personally I can understand your barely suppressed anger. I mean, obviously Ms. Yingluck knew nothing,

She was only chairwoman of the National Rice Board, PM of her own, handpicked cabinet and as she stated during the last censure debate only she and no one else was in charge. How can she be 'only negligent' ? Between 500 and 700++billion Baht lost, but the PM obviously knowing nothing, being 'innocent as a babe', a cute one as well as some have it.

Anger, No. Resignation, Yes. Thailand has been through this before, except last time the organ grinders monkey was called the AEC.

You'll keep on posting about 500++ or 700++ billion baht lost but at the end of the day that is what the rice price pledging scheme cost the State. It was not lost but of course that sounds sexier and implies 500++ or whatever lost to corruption.

Fab4:

If it was all above board as you say, why were they afraid to issue audited accounts? OK, forget audited accounts, why were they even afraid to issue unaudited accounts?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

I don't know. Presumably the NACC have audited the accounts or how would they have been able to confidently "predict" a cost to the State of 500 - 700 million baht (depending on who is publishing the guesstimates). As a result I am confident they will be able to prove that corruption is the reason for those widely published guesstimates, ................won't they?

[halloween]

A fine blend of apathy and ignorance - you don't know (you don't even want to know) and you don't care.

You even think it's "funny" (ha ha or peculiar?) that some of us care when those in government steal funds which could otherwise benefit our families future. Hard to express moral indignation without morals.

Curious that for one who "cares" so much about "funds that could otherwise benefit our families future", you only joined this forum a week ago to express that "caring". Did you keep it all bottled up during the the year or so that the investigation was going on or have you just arrived in Thailand recently and assimilate quickly?

Do I have a stalker too? Not that it is any of your business, but I have been engaged in a periodic bout of intensive fiscal servitude so as to maintain my family's lifestyle the intensity of which precluded little more than fleeting observation. Now that it is concluded, I feel the need for mental exercise in my free time. Critically and logically examining the flatulence posted by some of this forum provides that, and you can have it gratis for the next several months. Enjoy, and have a nice day!

[halloween]

Personally I can understand your barely suppressed anger. I mean, obviously Ms. Yingluck knew nothing,

She was only chairwoman of the National Rice Board, PM of her own, handpicked cabinet and as she stated during the last censure debate only she and no one else was in charge. How can she be 'only negligent' ? Between 500 and 700++billion Baht lost, but the PM obviously knowing nothing, being 'innocent as a babe', a cute one as well as some have it.

Anger, No. Resignation, Yes. Thailand has been through this before, except last time the organ grinders monkey was called the AEC.

You'll keep on posting about 500++ or 700++ billion baht lost but at the end of the day that is what the rice price pledging scheme cost the State. It was not lost but of course that sounds sexier and implies 500++ or whatever lost to corruption.

Fab4:

If it was all above board as you say, why were they afraid to issue audited accounts? OK, forget audited accounts, why were they even afraid to issue unaudited accounts?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

I don't know. Presumably the NACC have audited the accounts or how would they have been able to confidently "predict" a cost to the State of 500 - 700 million baht (depending on who is publishing the guesstimates). As a result I am confident they will be able to prove that corruption is the reason for those widely published guesstimates, ................won't they?

That would be Billions of Baht, right?

[Thai at Heart]

Personally I can understand your barely suppressed anger. I mean, obviously Ms. Yingluck knew nothing,

She was only chairwoman of the National Rice Board, PM of her own, handpicked cabinet and as she stated during the last censure debate only she and no one else was in charge. How can she be 'only negligent' ? Between 500 and 700++billion Baht lost, but the PM obviously knowing nothing, being 'innocent as a babe', a cute one as well as some have it.

Anger, No. Resignation, Yes. Thailand has been through this before, except last time the organ grinders monkey was called the AEC.

You'll keep on posting about 500++ or 700++ billion baht lost but at the end of the day that is what the rice price pledging scheme cost the State. It was not lost but of course that sounds sexier and implies 500++ or whatever lost to corruption.

Fab4:

If it was all above board as you say, why were they afraid to issue audited accounts? OK, forget audited accounts, why were they even afraid to issue unaudited accounts?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

I don't know. Presumably the NACC have audited the accounts or how would they have been able to confidently "predict" a cost to the State of 500 - 700 million baht (depending on who is publishing the guesstimates). As a result I am confident they will be able to prove that corruption is the reason for those widely published guesstimates, ................won't they?

They haven't even put it in the.public domain what grades and qualities they have in the warehouse.

All they have said is that it is substandard. And????

[fab4]

A fine blend of apathy and ignorance - you don't know (you don't even want to know) and you don't care.

You even think it's "funny" (ha ha or peculiar?) that some of us care when those in government steal funds which could otherwise benefit our families future. Hard to express moral indignation without morals.

Curious that for one who "cares" so much about "funds that could otherwise benefit our families future", you only joined this forum a week ago to express that "caring". Did you keep it all bottled up during the the year or so that the investigation was going on or have you just arrived in Thailand recently and assimilate quickly?

Do I have a stalker too? Not that it is any of your business, but I have been engaged in a periodic bout of intensive fiscal servitude so as to maintain my family's lifestyle the intensity of which precluded little more than fleeting observation. Now that it is concluded, I feel the need for mental exercise in my free time. Critically and logically examining the flatulence posted by some of this forum provides that, and you can have it gratis for the next several months. Enjoy, and have a nice day!

"Critically and logically examining the flatulence posted by some of this forum provides that, and you can have it gratis for the next several months."

Good to see that you are playing your part in that.

[halloween]

They haven't even put it in the.public domain what grades and qualities they have in the warehouse.

All they have said is that it is substandard. And????

They? Shouldn't that information have been made available by the 'they' that bought and stored it? Of course such transparency and accountability may have precluded some of the games 'they' have played, and now face prosecution for.

Edited September 6, 2014 by halloween

[ramrod711]

Mr Vicha identified Mr Boonsong’s ex-secretary as Major Veeravuth Watjanapukka

The very last job you want to have in this country, assistant to a poo yai. No matter what you do, it won't be the big shot going to jail. I suppose the question has to be asked, if the minister didn't know the secretary was bent, was the minister doing his job?

[Thai at Heart]

They haven't even put it in the.public domain what grades and qualities they have in the warehouse.

All they have said is that it is substandard. And????

They? Shouldn't that information have been made available by the 'they' that bought and stored it? Of course such transparency and accountability may have precluded some of the games 'they' have played, and now face prosecution for.

I don't care who they are.

Until someone points out that grade A went in, and Grade F is really what they have and it has cost xxxxxbaht, the whole thing is just smoke and mirrors.

This could all be a scam to sell grade B at grade F prices for all we know.

[Eric Loh]

NACC better made this charge watertight after the last fiasco. For now, any news from NACC are taken with a pinch of salt and to be ignored until we see charges accepted by the courts and conviction.