The Supreme Court has ordered former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and 18 other individuals and companies accused of involvement in corrupt government rice deals to submit their written statements by the end of August.
The order came after the defendants yesterday pleaded not guilty at the court's Criminal Division for Political Office-Holders.
Another two defendants — Mr Boonsong's ex-secretary Maj Veeravuth Watjanapukka and Suthi Loemthaisong, a Siralai Co executive — failed to appear in court yesterday, prompting the court to issue warrants for their arrest and suspend their case proceedings.
The court ordered the case to be heard on Sept 29. It dismissed requests by some defendants to hold their trial in absentia, saying all defendants must be present in court. However, they could occasionally seek permission to be absent.
Boonsong: Trial begins on Sept 29
The case was brought as a result of the National Anti-Corruption Commission's investigation into alleged irregularities in the rice-pledging scheme initiated by the Yingluck Shinawatra administration.
Mr Boonsong and 20 others have been accused of violating a law on the submission of contract bids to state agencies, an anti-graft act, and Criminal Code Sections 151 and 157 concerning malfeasance in office. The Office of the Attorney-General is also seeking a fine of 3.5 billion baht against the defendants.
According to prosecutors, Guangdong Stationery & Sporting Goods Import & Export Corp, and Hainan Grain & Oil Industrial Trading Co were allowed to buy pledged rice without competition from other bidders.
The court rejected a bail request by defendant Nimon Rakdee, as he had used a title deed over public land as surety. The other defendants secured bail.
Meanwhile, the court rescheduled the process of examining evidence in Ms Yingluck's case, where she has been accused of dereliction of duty and abuse of authority in failing to stop graft and losses in the rice-pledging scheme.
The postponement from the original date of July 21 and 28 came after Ms Yingluck sought court approval to defer submitting her written statement. The new date was set for Aug 31.