The National Anti-Corruption Commission has passed a resolution to take legal action against former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, his ex-deputy Poom Sarapol and 19 others for graft in government-to-government rice sales which might have incurred a loss of over 600 billion baht, NACC member Vicha Mahakhun said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and 20 other officials would be charged with collusion to benefit companies on the rice-pledging scheme. (Photo by Pattanapong Hirunard)
The NACC's action came two days before former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra delivers a closing defence statement to the National Legislative Assembly in the rice-pledging scheme on Thursday and three days before the NLA votes on an impeachment motion against her the next day.
Mr Vicha, who leads an NACC subcommittee investigating the G-to-G rice deals, said the decision was reached at Tuesday's meeting of the anti-graft agency.
He said more than 100 rice trading companies involved would be investigated in order to complete the investigation report before the case is filed with the Office of the Attorney General.
Mr Boonsong, Mr Poom and 19 others, including high-level Commerce Ministry officials and businessmen, would be charged with collaborating to allow companies not authorised by China to enter into G-to-G deals, causing severe damage to the country and the monetary system, he said.
Mr Vicha said the NACC also made a resolution for the Finance Ministry and the Commerce Ministry's International Trade Department to demand compensation from the companies accused of involvement for the damages which might amount to more than 600 billion baht.
Asked whether the NACC's decision was intentional as the NLA is scheduled to vote on an impeachment motion against former prime minister Yingluck Shinwatra over the rice-pledging scheme on Friday, Mr Vicha said this was a coincident.
He said the NACC was investigating this matter long before the NLA scheduled the impeachment vote. Every step had been carried out in normal proceedings, he added.
Mr Boonsong, meanwhile, said he had learned of the NACC's decision.
"Although the the NACC has decided to take action against me, the legal proceedings have not ended. The NACC still has to forward the case to the Office of the Attorney General for consideration. It is still not known whether the OAG will go ahead with the indictment.
"Even if the OAG decides to indict me in court, I believe the court will give me justice because I did not do anything wrong as accused," Mr Boonsong said.
Mr Boonsong said the NACC, in deciding against him today, was likely to have a hidden agenda.
"The decision against me was made only two days before Ms Yingluck was to deliver her closing defence statement to the NLA. I'm only a political bait. They hope my case will add weight to Ms Yingluck's impeachment. In fact, these are two separate cases," Mr Boonsong said.