Former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and two high-ranking Commerce Ministry figures yesterday dodged being questioned by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on allegedly fraudulent government-to-government rice sales deals.
Mr Boonsong, his former deputy Phoom Sarapol and ex-Department of Foreign Trade director-general Manas Soythong, did not turn up at the NLA session for questioning. They sent a letter citing their right to remain silent until their court trial.
The defendants said in their letter to the NLA that they feared their answers before legislators will affect the trial, set to begin on June 29 at the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office-Holders.
Last January, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) brought charges of corruption against the men, accusing them of faking a G-to-G deal and reselling state-owned produce to domestic firms with close ties to the Yingluck Shinawatra administration.
Anti-graft commissioner Vicha Mahakun found two Chinese firms were given the rights to buy rice under the pledging scheme without having to face competition from other bidders.
These companies, Guangdong Stationery & Sporting Goods Import & Export and Hainan Grain & Oil Industrial Trading Co, were not mandated by the Chinese government to work on its behalf. The firms later allegedly sold the paddy at lower-than market rates to rice trading firm Siam Indica Co.
Mr Vicha, in charge of the investigation, forwarded the case to the NLA, asking legislators to impeach Mr Boonsong, Mr Phoom and Mr Manas.
He argued the defendants violated the interim charter as well as the 1999 Organic Act on Counter-Corruption.
NLA members had tabled questions to ask the three whether they had evidence to prove the Chinese government authorised both firms to undertake the supposed G-to-G deal and produce documents regarding rice exports to China.
Meanwhile, Mr Vicha maintained Mr Manas could be impeached, despite the fact the former department director-general has already retired as a government official.