Court gives Yingluck until August 31 to submit testimony

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COURT
Court gives Yingluck until August 31 to submit testimony
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE SUPREME Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders yesterday gave former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra more time to provide a list of witnesses and evidence in relation to the negligence charge against her over her government's controversial rice-pledging scheme.

Yingluck submitted a request to the court, seeking extension of the date for the submission of her written testimony. The court has set August 31 as the new date, after twice adjourning it from July 21 and July 28.

The court has commenced a trial against former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and 20 others for violating the Price Collusion Act of 1999, articles 151 and 157 of the Criminal Code, and the Anti-Corruption Act in relation to a government-to-government deal involving the rice-pledging scheme.

Prosecutors are pushing for Bt35 billion in compensation, accusing the defendants of causing damage to the state.

Boonsong and the other defendants, except two, turned up at the trial yesterday. The court ordered them to submit their testimonies before August 31 and the court will examine evidence on September 29.

The court issued arrest warrants for Weerawut Wajjanapukka, former secretary to the commerce minister, and Suthee Laumthaisong, director of Siralai Co Ltd, for failing to show up at the trial and showing intent to escape prosecution.

The court also cancelled an order for the temporary release of Nimon Rakdee after examining the land title deed he posted for bail and determining it to be illegal. Should Nimon fail to present the court with proper assets, he will be sent to jail.

The court also rejected some of the defendants' requests for a trial in absentia.

In a related development, the National Anti-Corruption Commission will today examine a petition in which former information and communications technology minister Anudith Nakornthap has called for the replacement of the NACC panel probing whether 34 members of the Yingluck cabinet illegally paid compensation to the red shirts affected by political rallies from 2005-10.

NACC member Vicha Mahakun said the NACC would decide today whether to accept Anudith's request to replace the panel members on adversarial grounds.

The request was submitted by Anudith's lawyer after Anudith had filed a suit with the Nonthaburi Provincial Court against Vicha and other panel members, accusing them of violating Article 157 of the Criminal Code after committing malfeasance when they accused the 34 ex-cabinet members of illegally paying compensation.

Vicha said the NACC would decide on whether Anudith had filed the suit with an ulterior motive in mind.

Anudith's lawyer, Winyat Chatmontri, said the suit filed against the panel members was based in both sides being adversarial towards each other. The NACC's failure to replace the 11 panel members could be deemed unethical, he said.

Winyat quoted Anudith as insisting that the 34 ex-cabinet members had approved the fund to compensate the political victims with legitimacy. They regarded the NACC pressing charges against them as pure harassment or vengeance.

He said the NACC panel had failed to give them a fair investigation after not summoning all the witnesses to give testimonies. They had asked for their defence statements to be postponed for 15 days.

NACC chairman Panthep Klanarongran said the 34 ex-MPs including Yingluck had to hear the charges at the NACC today.

He said if they failed to turn up, the NACC would deliver the charges via post and they would be required to submit their defence statements within 15 days of receiving the charges.

Panthep said they were allowed to postpone giving their defence statement twice. The NACC would pursue legal action against anyone who did not submit the statement, he added.

The panel would wrap up the investigation and submit its decision to the NACC in July, he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Court-gives-Yingluck-until-August-31-to-submit-tes-30263388.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-30

[Tatsujin]

"The panel would wrap up the investigation and submit its decision to the NACC in July, he said."

Freudian slip methinks considering that they're not getting Yingluck's "defense" until end of August.

[steveyinasia]

They will keep extending until everyone forgets.

[rubl]

When Ms. Yingluck posted on her facebook page to want a chance to defend herself and justify her actions and so, she clearly forgot to mention which year she'd like to be able to do so.

Interesting is that her blanket amnesty bill which covered upto 2013-08-09 would have 'defended' her sufficiently.

[Lupatria]

There is hope for her. Time is on her side:

After the end of absolute monarchy in 1932, Thai cabinets have lasted an average of one year and four months (just 496 days!)

[eggers]

She probably needs more time to finish packing in prep for"leaving the building".

[halloween]

There is hope for her. Time is on her side:

After the end of absolute monarchy in 1932, Thai cabinets have lasted an average of one year and four months (just 496 days!)

Did Yingluk have a cabinet that lasted longer than 6 months?

[Your Thainess]

This charade is insulting to the people of Thailand. Either jail her now under 44 or quit pretending there will be a fair judicial process.

[ramrod711]

This charade is insulting to the people of Thailand. Either jail her now under 44 or quit pretending there will be a fair judicial process.

I assume that "the charade" you speak of, is that she actually has a defense. For over a year now she has been attempting to produce a list of witnesses who will say she did nothing wrong, apparently she can't find enough who are willing to perjure themselves. Perhaps it's time to tour Issan again, while she ignores yet another court.

[scorecard]

There is hope for her. Time is on her side:

After the end of absolute monarchy in 1932, Thai cabinets have lasted an average of one year and four months (just 496 days!)

Did Yingluk have a cabinet that lasted longer than 6 months?

Good Point, perhaps a further analysis, on average how many critical meetings did she attend and contribute something valuable every six months?

[Gunna]

YL said she was too busy growing mushrooms to have time to sort out her defense witnesses.

That's because there aren't any people who under oath aren't willing to say she wasn't negligent, ie that she actually attended any meetings while she was chairwoman

Maybe she will have to asked her co-accused who ripped of the Rice Scam with illegal / forged G2G deals - ah maybe not a good idea

[Bannum opinions]

She probably needs more time to finish packing in prep for"leaving the building".

The anti-democrats would love that.

As long as she remains in Thailand, she will be a huge electoral threat. This regardless how they manage to "Reform" her and other pro-democrats out of future electoral processes. This article discussing some of those initiatives.

Edited June 30, 2015 by Bannum opinions

[seajae]

She probably needs more time to finish packing in prep for"leaving the building".

The anti-democrats would love that.

As long as she remains in Thailand, she will be a huge electoral threat. This regardless how they manage to "Reform" her and other pro-democrats out of future electoral processes. This article discussing some of those initiatives.

do you even know what you are talking about, huge electoral threat, she has already been bared for 5 years and the way she is going now that all her and her cabinets corrupt deals are coming out she will never want to go never politics again. Maybe if you lived here or actually knew what you were talking about you might make a competent argument but simply quoting thaksins instructions to his lackies is getting pretty pathetic but it seems all you are capable of

[scorecard]

She probably needs more time to finish packing in prep for"leaving the building".

The anti-democrats would love that.

As long as she remains in Thailand, she will be a huge electoral threat. This regardless how they manage to "Reform" her and other pro-democrats out of future electoral processes. This article discussing some of those initiatives.

Another Robert graduate / puppet?