BANGKOK, 5 Dec 2013, The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) expects to wrap up its investigation into the Government to Government (G-2-G) rice deal with China, as it has already received ample information on the case.
The NACC earlier agreed to extend the period of its investigation on former Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom’s involvement in irregularities in the 2011/2012 season of rice pledging scheme, saying it had not yet received needed information from the Public Warehouse Organization (PWO).
It revealed further that, on the case of the G-2-G rice deal with China, the NACC found that the deal was done with 2 agencies appointed by the Chinese government, and the evidence received was not sufficient to prove whether the deal was a G-2-G contract. The NACC also found that several Thai officials and private individuals had been involved in the irregularities.
According to Secretary of the NACC, Witaya Akompitak, his agency has finally received the information required from the PWO, which comprises 34 documents used in transporting the pledged rice from 180 warehouses from all over the nation.
Mr. Witaya said the NACC would need approximate 1-2 weeks to go through all the documents, saying, however, it would quickly conclude the investigation as soon as it can.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Puangrach said he would cooperate with the NACC, instructing the Department of Internal Trade, the Department of Foreign Trade, and the PWO to facilitate the NACC’s probe, providing the agency with whatever information it needed.
