'Complicated' rice-pledging scheme rated the NACC's toughest case

[webfact]

'Complicated' rice-pledging scheme rated the NACC's toughest case
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE INVESTIGATION into the rice-pledging farm-subsidy programme is the toughest task the National Anti-Corruption Commission has undertaken, NACC member Vicha Mahakun said yesterday. The NACC marked its ninth anniversary yesterday.

Vicha said NACC members all agreed that the rice-pledging scheme was the most complicated corruption scandal. "Some NACC [members] encountered some unexpected situations," he said, refusing to elaborate.

The anti-graft agency is probing five issues in connection with the subsidy programme including a corruption allegation against former deputy prime minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong over the sale of rice to Indonesia, a kickback allegation against the Public Warehouse Organisation chief and the rice distribution corruption allegation against former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom.

The NACC has compiled some cases into a book titled "Opening a File of Thais' Expensive Lessons from 10 Corruption Scandals".

The scandals include the corruption allegedly involved in the Public Health Ministry's median drug-price list; the procurement of fire trucks; the Ratchadaphisek land-deal case against ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra; the two- and three-digit lottery scheme; and cases of unusual wealth.

The NACC is also probing allegations that ex-PM Yingluck Shinawatra illegally paid compensation to protesters in political rallies.

In another high-profile probe, the graft agency has questioned all witnesses in the allegation against ex-PM Abhisit Vejjajiva and his then-deputy Suthep Thaugsuban over the bloody crackdown on red shirts during political demonstrations in 2010.

The case will wrap up soon once the Department of Special Investigation submits certain documents to the NACC, Vicha said. Statistics show that since 2007 to this year the NACC had completed investigation into 26,530 complaints from a total of 37,578.

Of the 11,048 outstanding complaints, 8,836 are in the fact-finding stage, 2,212 are being investigated, 1,076 have been submitted to investigative panels and 1,086 have had investigative panels look into them.

The damage incurred from more than 50 graft scandals that took place in state agencies from 2007 until this year allegedly amounted to Bt403 billion.

In addition, 30 corruption cases involving state enterprises amounted to Bt121 billion in damages, while 110 local government corruption case caused Bt168 billion in damages, according to the commission.

NACC president Panthep Klana-rongran defended the agency over complaints it operated with double standards, insisting it adhered to the law and worked based on facts and evidence. "It is just an opinion. Some cases met with delay because of difficulties in finding evidence," he said.

Vicha said the NACC upheld the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. "If the NACC handles any corruption cases illegally, we will be probed by the UN," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Complicated-rice-pledging-scheme-rated-the-NACCs-t-30271006.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-16

[jaidam]

Although her dereliction of duty charge is the NACC's easiest case. She made herself head of the rice committee without any knowledge of the industry whatsoever and in spite of numerous warnings, and then didn't even bother to turn up to a single meeting. It does not get any more open and shut that this - statute of limitations I believe expires sometime in the mid 2020's, I'm sure if she chucks a few baht around she can drag it out until then.

[jgriff]

Just reading this makes one think WHY do the people of Thailand let this happen? The billions of baht mentioned here is only the tip of the iceberg. It is so ingrained into society I don't think things will get better till the parents of the youth start showing their kids from an early age that corruption will kill a country. First though you have to get the parents to stop.

What a horrible circle ??

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

yeah it's difficult to say no to all the money they are probably being bribed with in the donut boxes to turn a blind eye.

[Expat1]

"Vicha said NACC members all agreed that the rice-pledging scheme was the most complicated corruption scandal." Really? Of course, that is the point of such a scam to make it as convoluted as possible to deflect any blame. I suggest good old time vigilante justice like what was done in the 1970's and 80" . It works and the Thaksins and others understand this VERY well. But doubtful that old school method will be done anymore. Shame, it would achieve the results Thailand needs.

[Thai at Heart]

"Vicha said NACC members all agreed that the rice-pledging scheme was the most complicated corruption scandal." Really? Of course, that is the point of such a scam to make it as convoluted as possible to deflect any blame. I suggest good old time vigilante justice like what was done in the 1970's and 80" . It works and the Thaksins and others understand this VERY well. But doubtful that old school method will be done anymore. Shame, it would achieve the results Thailand needs.

Well, according to the law it's either illegal or not. I don't see it as complicated....

According to everyone on here it's an open and shut case. Why is the NACC scratching it's head?

[Eric Loh]

How complicated can the rice pledging scheme be when you have cases wrapped up in faster than preceding cases.

[Baerboxer]

"Vicha said NACC members all agreed that the rice-pledging scheme was the most complicated corruption scandal." Really? Of course, that is the point of such a scam to make it as convoluted as possible to deflect any blame. I suggest good old time vigilante justice like what was done in the 1970's and 80" . It works and the Thaksins and others understand this VERY well. But doubtful that old school method will be done anymore. Shame, it would achieve the results Thailand needs.

Well, according to the law it's either illegal or not. I don't see it as complicated....

According to everyone on here it's an open and shut case. Why is the NACC scratching it's head?

Because as with anything involving the hiso, rich, elite, well connected, political classes in Thailand, nothing is straight forward.

Many open and shut cases drag on and on whilst the behind the scenes negotiations, games and deals are being done.

Were the focus really on the law, did someone do something illegal or not, then things would not be so dragged out.

[Thai at Heart]

"Vicha said NACC members all agreed that the rice-pledging scheme was the most complicated corruption scandal." Really? Of course, that is the point of such a scam to make it as convoluted as possible to deflect any blame. I suggest good old time vigilante justice like what was done in the 1970's and 80" . It works and the Thaksins and others understand this VERY well. But doubtful that old school method will be done anymore. Shame, it would achieve the results Thailand needs.

Well, according to the law it's either illegal or not. I don't see it as complicated....

According to everyone on here it's an open and shut case. Why is the NACC scratching it's head?

Because as with anything involving the hiso, rich, elite, well connected, political classes in Thailand, nothing is straight forward.

Many open and shut cases drag on and on whilst the behind the scenes negotiations, games and deals are being done.

Were the focus really on the law, did someone do something illegal or not, then things would not be so dragged out.

Hardly. They are racing Yinglucks cases upfront asap.

[ldiablo]

So if the NACC marked its 9th anniversary why did it take them so long to get involved in investigating the rice scheme. It wasn't until after the coup that people started seriously asking questions. I'm sure Prayut, Suthep,Thaksin and many others were probably getting a fair cut of what was going on and had to put the blame on someone in order to hide their own guilty participation.

[sharecropper]

It's probably complicated because in the corruption which followed the scheme everyone - Reds, Yellows, Army, police, national and regional politicians, business figures, are all implicated in the scamming scrum, so they have to tread with care.