NACC expected to charge PM over rice scheme

Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is expected to face charges for failure to deal with problems in the rice-pledging scheme, according to the NACC secretary-general.

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It now seems quite possible that caretaker Prime Minister will be charged for failure to deal with problems in the rice-pledging scheme, this according NACC deputy secretary-general Witthaya Akhompitak. CHANAT KATANYU

This morning NACC deputy secretary-general Witthaya Akhompitak (holding envelope right) was in the news again as he came out of the NACC offices to accept additional information on irregularities from caretaker chairman of the Thai Farmers' Network, Rawee Rungruang PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD

NACC expected to charge PM over rice

Post Reporters

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is expected to bring formal charges against caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for her role in the rice-pledging scheme later this month.

NACC deputy secretary-general Witthaya Akhompitak said yesterday that an inquiry panel is expected to conclude the case and bring charges against the premier. An NACC inquiry panel is currently obtaining more evidence to substantiate its case, he said.

Mr Witthaya said the NACC will also question unpaid rice farmers who have asked them to investigate the prime minister and the government.

He said if the panel finds there is enough evidence, Ms Yingluck would face charges of violating Section 157 of the Criminal Code for dereliction of duty. If she is charged, the premier will be given an opportunity to defend herself before the panel forwards the case to the main NACC panel, who would then decide whether to indict her.

If the main NACC panel decides to indict her and take the case to court, she would be required to step down from all official roles.

On Jan 16, the NACC agreed to launch an inquiry into the role of Ms Yingluck when a panel decided to bring formal corruption charges against 15 people involved in government-to-government rice deals, including former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and former deputy commerce minister Poom Sarapol.

The premier will face criminal charges if the investigation finds that she was negligent in her duties as chairwoman of the National Rice Policy Committee, which oversees the scheme.

Commissioner Vicha Mahakhun previously said the NACC agreed that the case against Ms Yingluck concerned a government policy issue.

He said the inquiry panel has grounds to believe Ms Yingluck may have learnt about problems affecting the rice scheme, but failed to stop them.

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