Yingluck to face criminal charge (maybe) as well as impeachment (updated)

Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra now faces not only a possible political ban over the rice-pledging scheme, but a criminal charge brought by the NACC and OAG as well. But maybe not. On Wednesday, the deputy attorney general said nothing has been decided yet.

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Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra now faces a possible prison sentence over her rice-pledging scheme to add to her impeachment woes. KRIT PROMSAKA NA SAKOLNAKORN

Evening update:  The long-running tension between the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) appeared to resurface today as the deputy attorney general, who did not attend yesterday's meeting, says nothing has been decided yet. In fact, only three members of the OAG team were present at yesterday's meeting.

From the Bangkok Post:

Deputy Attorney-General Wuthipong Wiboonwong, as the joint panel chairman and the OAG team head, said the team is still gathering additional information and evidence to complete the investigation.

"Even though I head the OAG delegation at these meetings, I didn't know we reached an agreement with the NACC," he said.

He also denied the NACC's claim that Tuesday's meeting was the last one.

"The OAG side will meet on Monday to discuss the results of Tuesday's meeting. After that I will call a meeting of the joint committee again," he said.

Mr Wuthipong also said he was not even informed about Tuesday's meeting schedule despite the fact that he is the chairman, so he did not attend it.

Panel seeks criminal charges for Yingluck

Ariane Kupferman-Sutthavong

The joint committee of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) has agreed to press a criminal charge against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra in relation to the rice-pledging scheme.

On Tuesday, the NACC also recommended former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, his ex-deputy Poom Sarapol and 19 others be indicted for graft for their roles in government-to-government (G-to-G) rice sales.

NACC secretary-general Sansern Poljeak said the joint panel of the NACC and the OAG Tuesday completed their discussions over Ms Yingluck's alleged dereliction of duty in overseeing the controversial rice scheme and causing massive damage to the state following the Criminal Code's Section 157.

Mr Sansern said the panel will ask the Attorney-General to indict Ms Yingluck with the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions, which should proceed within days.

If found guilty, Ms Yingluck could face a maximum jail term of 10 years.

Earlier, the OAG had demanded the NACC question more witnesses and gather more evidence before it made a decision on indicting Ms Yingluck.

Meanwhile, NACC member Vicha Mahakhun told a press conference that Mr Boonsong, Mr Poom and 19 others, including high-level Commerce Ministry officials and private sector parties, would be charged with colluding to benefit two Chinese firms which were not authorised by the Chinese government to undertake G-to-G deals.

Happier days: Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom (left) accompanies then prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to an action plan meeting at Government House in June 2013. CHANAT KATANYU

The private sector parties included executives and directors of Siam Indica, a major rice trading company.

The two companies – Guangdong Stationery & Sporting Goods Import & Export Corp and Hainan Grain & Oil Industrial Trading Co – were given the rights to buy rice under the pledging scheme without having to face competition from other bidders, Mr Vicha said.

They then sold the paddy, which they bought at prices lower than the pledging price, to Thailand's domestic rice traders and to Siam Indica to resell, Mr Vicha said.

These practices caused serious damage to the country, he said.

The NACC has agreed that the actions of the 21 accused violated the Criminal Code, the law on state price bidding offences and the National Anti-Corruption Act, Mr Vicha said.

The anti-graft body will forward the case to the Office of the Attorney-General to indict the 21 accused in court, Mr Vicha said.

You can read the full, much longer story, here: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/458484/panel-seeks-criminal-charges-for-yingluck

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