SURIN — Two millers are being investigated after pledged rice delivered to buyers arrived as a mix of two different varieties.
Charoen Pokphand Group, which won an auction to buy fragrant rice from the Phoon Phol mill in Muang district and the Namchai mill in Sangkla district complained to the Commerce Ministry that it found white rice mixed with the fragrant rice the company purchased.
Local authorities have been asked to investigate the case.
Col Ekkaparp Surai, deputy commander of Surin's Internal Security Operations Command, said representatives from local agencies met Thursday to discuss the case and assess the damage.
He said CP still had not yet taken delivery of around 6.7 tonnes of rice from Phoon Phol, so the company wanted to determine the exact amount of adulterated rice. Experts will be sent to check the remaining stock.
The previous government implemented a rice-pledging scheme that saw stocks auctioned off to both domestic and foreign buyers. The scheme was accused of being tainted by huge amounts of corruption.