The National Anti-Corruption Commission has decided to further investigate former deputy commerce minister Veerasak Jinarat, a member of the Abhisit Vejjajiva government, over alleged involvement in irregularities in the 2009 rice sale scheme.
NACC secretary-general Sansern Poljeak said the agency decided to expand the investigation to see if there are any links with former commerce minister Porntiva Nakasai.
The panel will press charges against Mrs Porntiva or anyone else involved in the case, Mr Sansern said, if suspicions are confirmed.
Mr Veerasak had used 25 million baht from the student loan fund allocated to a technical college in which he was the rector as a guarantee for a private firm to release rice from stockpiles. He told the Commerce Ministry that the student loan fund he used was a school subsidy and its use did not cause any financial damage, adding the money had been returned to the fund.
Mr Veerasak was dismissed by Mr Abhisit after his cabinet approved a probe against him in 2010.
Late last year, the NACC cleared senior Democrat Party figures including Mr Abhisit and Mrs Porntiva of wrongdoing in connection with rice sales made in 2009 when the party led the government.
Mrs Porntiva had been accused of selling government rice cheaper than market prices in 2009 and refusing to sell rice to two bidders, Wutthikawee Co and Singtothong Rice Corporation, that had offered higher quotes.
The NACC cleared her after finding that the selling prices were lower than market prices because buyers were allowed to deduct their rice transport costs and a depreciation allowance from their quotes. As well, it said, Mrs Porntiva had already approved a previous rice sale to Singtothong Rice and Wutthikawee Co but they had abandoned their bids, so they were disqualified from the 2009 sale.