Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is demanding that authorities wrap up their investigations into graft cases in connection with the Yingluck Shinawatra government's rice-pledging scheme this year.
The premier expressed his wishes at the rice policy and management committee's meeting, which he chaired Thursday.
Speaking after the meeting, he said any important cases in the investigation must be expedited so they can eventually go through the judicial process.
The government earlier issued an administrative order to claim the assets of the former prime minister to compensate the state for losses incurred from her administration's rice-pledging programme.
It claims the action was to prevent the case from expiring based on the two-year statute of limitations, which will expire in February 2017. The order is in compliance with the 1996 Act on Liability for Wrongful Acts of Officials.
Gen Prayut said it is his duty to deal with the losses and he must accomplish this task.
He said the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is also looking into alleged graft in relation to the rice scheme and that the accused are allowed to fight their cases in line with judicial procedures.
"Please, do not listen to the distorted issues. When they [the cases] enter the [judicial] process, there is nothing to be worried about," said Gen Prayut. "If they [the accused] believe they have done nothing wrong, they should come into the justice process."
The Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) of the Justice Ministry announced on Wednesday it had received 551 complaints in relation to the Yingluck administration's rice-pledging scheme.
Speaking after the NACC's meeting, PACC secretary-general Prayong Priyajit said his agency had set up sub-panels to investigate 47 cases. The rest is pending the probes.
Based on these 47 cases, Mr Prayong conceded it would take time but should not be a protracted process as the cases are similar in terms of the offences.
Most of the cases involve rice stockpiling and rice warehouses which belong to the Public Warehouse Organisation (PWO) and the Marketing Organisation for Farmers (MOF).
He said Gen Prayut, who chaired the meeting, called on the PACC to speed up its handling of the cases in line with the legal process.
The investigation into the cases should not be prolonged or exceed the legal timeline, he said, adding the new legislation governing the PACC stipulates that the investigation must be completed within three months.
Ms Yingluck is accused of dereliction of duty for failing to stop her government's loss-ridden rice scheme despite being warned of the potential damage.
The hearing of her case in the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office-Holders is still ongoing.
Jirachai Moonthongroy, deputy permanent secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, who headed a committee looking into administrative offences involving the rice programme, testified in court on May 13 that Ms Yingluck's rice scheme led to 510.6 billion baht in losses.
By May 22, 2014, the project's cost stood at 653 billion baht, plus the 24 billion baht in management expenses and 30 billion baht in interest payments. The scheme had made 189 billion baht in revenue.
As for the loss of 510.6 billion baht, the committee subtracted farmers' benefits and interest payments and found Ms Yingluck is still liable for 286.6 billion baht in losses.
According to a government source, Mr Jirachai's committee submitted its findings regarding Ms Yingluck's liability to Gen Prayut two months ago.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said earlier that the prime minister, after receiving the findings, will deliver them to a committee on civil liability, chaired by the comptroller-general, for deliberations.
The deputy premier insisted the process calling for compensation from Ms Yingluck will be completed before the deadline in February next year.
The decision of Mr Jirachai's committee to call for 286.6 billion baht in compensation from Ms Yingluck prompted the former premier to file a suit against Mr Jirachai with the Criminal Court on June 1, accusing him of malfeasance.
She claimed Mr Jirachai had not investigated witnesses or examined the remaining stocks of rice.