BANGKOK, 13 March 2015 – The Ministry of Commerce has fired two high-ranking officials for their involvement in the graft-ridden government to government rice deal approved during the previous government.
The move came in response to the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s decision to file charges against 21 politicians, civil servants and business operators for facilitating the two G-to-G rice deals said to be plagued by fraud. According to the Ministry of Commerce, the two officials had allegedly allowed unauthorized Chinese private operators to get the G to G rice deal, causing huge damage to the country.
The officials who have immediately been expelled from the civil service are deputy director-general of the Department of Foreign Trade Tikhumporn Natvaratat and former director of the Rice Trade Administration Bureau Akarapong Dipavajra. The Ministry of Commerce has also discontinued the pension of former director-general of the Department of Foreign Trade Manas Soiploy who was also involved in the scam.
The Ministry will later file legal lawsuits against the three. The accused can lodge an appeal within 30 days.
