Ministry faces race to file lawsuits

The Commerce Ministry is racing against time to file civil
 and criminal lawsuits against 15 private parties for losses
incurred in fake government-to-government (G-to-G) deals
 under Yingluck Shinawatra's rice-pledging scheme.

The ministry has until the end of the month to file the civil

 lawsuits otherwise the statute of limitations on the case will

 come into effect, Chutima Bunyapraphasara, permanent

secretary for commerce, said yesterday.

The ministry's legal officials recommended filing both criminal

 and civil suits at the same time since this would bolster the

 government's case, she said.

The ministry has written to the Office of the Auditor-General

(OAG) instructing it to pursue both criminal and civil lawsuits

against the private parties, she said.

The civil suit against the 15 private parties has a one-year

 statute of limitations. It started from the date the ministry

identified the rice deal transgressions and those involved.

The year is up at the end of the month. "Now we have to
 speed up the process of filing lawsuits," said Ms Chutima.

"The Commerce Ministry has agreed to lodge the criminal
 charges at the same time since our legal advisers believe it
 will bolster the civil case."

Regarding politicians and state officials suspected of

 involvement in the fake rice deals, the statute of limitations

 in their civil cases expires in February next year,

Ms Chutima said.

Former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and 20

other individuals and firms face a Supreme Court trial over

their alleged involvement in G-to-G rice deals with two

Chinese trading companies – Guangdong Stationery and

 Sporting Goods Import and Export, and Hainan Grain and

Oil Industrial Trading Co.

Suspicions surfaced when the National Anti-Corruption

 Commission found neither firm was authorised by Beijing

 to handle the deals.

Meanwhile, the government yesterday began selling off

 570,000 tonnes of rice stored in 40 warehouses in

 13 provinces.

 A total of 35 parties submitted bids.

 

News,General,Bangkok Post, 12 February 2016.

 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/861128/ministry-faces-race-to-file-lawsuits

 

I support the action that ,the Commerce Ministry should file

 both civil and criminal lawsuits against 15 private parties

 for losses incurred in fake government-to-government

(G-to-G) deals under Yingluck Shinawatra's rice-pledging scheme.

This should be done on time because the parties who caused

the loss from rice pledge scheme should have responsibily

for their guilty.

 

Sincerely Yours.