NACC set to rule on rice scheme fiasco

NACC set to rule on rice scheme fiasco

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is expected to make its decision over caretaker prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's involvement in the rice-pledging scheme next month, NACC spokesman Sansern Poljieak said yesterday.

Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong arrives at the National Anti-Corruption Commission to testify in the rice-pledging case yesterday. TAWATCHAI KHEMGUMNERD

The anti-graft agency had gathered all its evidence and is expected to conclude the case involving Yingluck Shinawatra in early May, he said.

The  anti-graft agency yesterday also rejected her plea to seek two more witnesses.

Her lawyer Norawit Laleang sought the green light from the anti-graft agency on April 11 to allow Somchai Sujjapongse, director of the Fiscal Policy Office, and Ampon Kittiampon, secretary to the prime minister, to testify before the agency to complete the defence.

The senior Finance Ministry official was added on grounds that he would counter statements made by whistleblower and finance deputy permanent-secretary Supa Piyajitti, on which the NACC's case was largely built, the lawyer said on April 11.

Mr Ampon would be able to testify that the cabinet had not ignored warnings in relation to the scheme, he added.

But the NACC considered yesterday that the additional witnesses were unnecessary as it had obtained sufficient evidence to conclude the case.

Ms  Yingluck yesterday also called a meeting with Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong before the latter testified in the premier's defence in the rice-pledging probe against her.

Ms Yingluck, also caretaker defence minister, yesterday arrived at the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence at Muang Thong Thani.

Shortly after her arrival, Ms Yingluck invited a legal team and Mr Kittiratt into a meeting to discuss details of testimony that the caretaker finance minister would present before the NACC in the afternoon

Ms Yingluck was charged with dereliction of duty by the NAAC in January for allegedly failing to deal with corruption in the subsidy scheme.

At the NACC headquarters  in Nonthaburi,  Mr Kittiratt yesterday spent  about four hours  testifying before  NACC commissioners.

Mr Kittiratt  insisted the government has done nothing wrong in the rice-pledging scheme as alleged by the NACC.

Mr Kittiratt spoke as a witness in the case.  He explained the 90-page document he brought over to defend the government's position.

He also answered questions related to fiscal management and gave an update on the spending on the scheme.

During 2012-2014, the government  had never set aside a new budget for this scheme because it needed to support other ongoing projects, Mr Kittiratt said.

He said the budget earmarked for the scheme was not excessively high as the NACC has stated, adding the government has subsidised the marketing cost for farmers which is not related to the rice pledging itself yet.

To set up budget for the farmers is not an illegitimate practice because there are 3.7  million families of farmers across the country  benefiting from this scheme, he said, adding the infrastructure and education projects require much more than this.

When the prime minister announces policy in the parliament, she is obliged to follow her promises and strictly exercise financial discipline, he said.

Mr Kittiratt admitted there could be fraudulent activities at the operational level, but affirmed the government's mechanisms are accountable and transparent "every step of the way".

He hoped his testimony will  help clarify any doubts the NACC has over this project, saying Ms Yingluck  has never neglected her duties or enabled corruption in the project.

"My clarifications would help the commission to understand that it's the premier's duty to carry out this project," he said.

Unfortunately, the caretaker government can't buy more rice from farmers now as it will be a violation of financial spending of the caretaker government, he said.

The country still has seven million tonnes of rice to be sold, but every farmer will be paid, he assured.

To date, the government has paid 90 billion baht under the project.

Mr Kittiratt was the last witness in this case.

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