The National Legislative Assembly has begun the impeachment hearing of former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and two other ministry officials accused of involvement in corrupt government rice deals.
The two others are ex-deputy commerce minister Poom Sarapol and Manas Soiploy, former director-general of the Foreign Trade Department.
The NLA, chaired by Pornpetch Wichitcholachai, began its meeting on Thursday at 9.30am to examine their roles in government-to-government rice sales during the previous Yingluck Shinawatra administration.
Vicha Mahakhun, a member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which filed the impeachment motion, was first to deliver an opening statement.
The three accused were to deliver their defence testimony afterward.
The NACC charged the three with allowing two Chinese companies, unauthorised by the Chinese government, to seal bilateral contracts to buy Thai rice without having to bid. They allegedly violated the Criminal Code, the Public Competitive Bidding Act and the Anti-Corruption Act.
After the two sides finished giving their testimony, the NLA was to set up a seven-member committee to raise questions for them to answer and set the dates for the enquiry sessions.
The two sides are to deliver their closing statements on May 7 and the NLA will vote whether or not to impeach the three on May 8.
