A lawyer representing caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday asked the National Anti-Corruption Commission to review its decision to block extra witnesses being called in the rice-pledging case.
Bancha Parameesanaporn yesterday submitted the request to the NACC, with deputy secretary-general Witthaya Arkhompitak receiving the letter on the agency's behalf.
Mr Bancha asked the NACC to hear testimonies from seven additional witnesses in defence of Ms Yingluck, which the anti-graft agency had earlier rejected.
The witnesses include caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, deputy national police chief Worapong Chiewpreecha, caretaker PM's Office Minister Varathep Rattanakorn, accountant Phichai Choonhavajira, and rice scheme adviser Orlarn Chaiprawat.
Mr Bancha said this was the third time he had requested the NACC to review its decision.
He said if the NACC still refuses to hear the testimonies of all seven witness, he hopes the agency will hear at least four of them — Mr Chalerm, Pol Gen Worapong, Mr Varathep and Mr Phichai.
Mr Witthaya said the request was expected to go before the NACC today.
The agency is expected to rule on Ms Yingluck's involvement in the rice-pledging scheme next month. The premier is accused of dereliction of duty for her failure to tackle allegations of graft in the scheme.
If indicted, Ms Yingluck will be required to suspend her duties as premier.
Caretaker Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuangrach yesterday also submitted a request asking the NACC to recheck the government's rice stocks.
Mr Yanyong said a Finance Ministry subcommittee assessing the rice scheme's accounts had supplied incomplete information to the NACC.
He said the subcommittee's information did not include the sale value of the more than 2.5 million tonnes of rice being held in government stockpiles.
This accounting error had put the rice scheme's losses at an exaggerated figure 200 billion baht when the reality is much lower, he said.
Ms Yingluck yesterday said on her Facebook page that it was important for the NACC to recheck the rice stocks being held under the supervision of the Public Warehouse Organisation and the Marketing Organisation for Farmers.
She said the rice stocks were not missing as claimed by the subcommittee.
Ms Yingluck said she wanted the NACC to carry out the recheck and ensure fairness to her.
As a defendant, she said she is entitled to prove the veracity of allegations made against her.