The Supreme Court has accepted a case in which seven more individuals and firms are implicated in the allegedly corrupt government-to-government (G-to-G) rice deals.
They are the Kitthavee Yasothon Rice Mill Limited partnership and Kitthavee Yasothon Rice Co and their managing director Thavee Artsamat; KMC Inter Rice (2002) Co and its managing director Pakorn Leesirikul; and Jia Meng Co and its managing director Prapit Manatunya.
They were indicted for allegedly helping ex-commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and 20 other individuals and firms commit graft in relation to the release of pledged rice under the G-to-G scheme.
A source at the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) said the hearing involving the seven new suspects will be held on Wednesday, the same day as the trial involving Mr Boonsong and the 20 others starts.
The OAG, the source said, has petitioned the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office-Holders to incorporate the case against the seven individuals and firms with that of the others. The court will decide whether to do so on Wednesday.
The source said since the same panel of judges is due to hear both cases on Wednesday it is unlikely the case involving Mr Boonsong and the 20 others would be heard, though all defendants are required to turn up to court.
He said the OAG had received a petition from the Commerce Ministry demanding compensation from Mr Boonsong and 20 others for damage incurred from the rice scheme.
The OAG's working panel agreed the petition should be filed with the Supreme Court in accordance with Section 44/1 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The section allows injured parties to file a request with the court hearing criminal proceedings to force an accused person to compensate them.
The petition must be filed with the court before the hearing starts.
Meanwhile, the third hearing in former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's trial for alleged dereliction of duty in the rice scheme takes place today. Three prosecution witnesses are due to testify.