Renewed bail request for jailed Boonsong submitted

Renewed bail request for jailed Boonsong submitted

Former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom reacts before entering the Supreme Court on Friday, when the ruling in the government-to-government rice sales case was handed down. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)
Former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom reacts before entering the Supreme Court on Friday, when the ruling in the government-to-government rice sales case was handed down. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)

A lawyer for Boonsong Teriyapirom is to submit a second bail request to the Supreme Court to temporarily release the former commerce minister.

Narin Somnuek, who works for Boonsong, said on Sunday he is preparing evidence for a second bail request for the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions to allow his client to be released from jail to appeal the ruling. The second bail attempt could take place as early as Monday, he added.

The reason the court rejected the first bail request on Friday remains unclear, according to the lawyer.

Boonsong's family members have amassed 30 million baht in cash to be deposited with the court as surety, and they are ready to increase it in accordance with the court decision, he added.

The former commerce minister was sentenced to 42 years in jail on Friday for his involvement in corrupt government-to-government rice deals during the government led by then-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

He is currently behind bars at Klong Prem Central Prison - with six other people jailed in the same case -after a transfer from adjacent Bangkok Remand Prison, where they spent their first night in custody.

Mr Narin said he will visit him again on Monday.

Klong Prem normally allows visits to inmates every Tuesday and Friday. Prison chief Thawatchai Chaiwat said the doors will be opened this coming Monday, but only for family members and visitors who want to meet Boonsong and other prisoners in the rice case.

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