Ex-commerce minister Boonsong gets 48 years in jail over rice-pledging scheme

[rooster59]

Ex-commerce minister Boonsong gets 48 years in jail over rice-pledging scheme

By The Nation

 

Boonsong

 

Former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyaphirom was on September 6 given an additional six years in prison for the Yingluck Shinawatra-led government’s rice-pledging scheme, bringing his total time in jail to 48 years.

 

 

The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders had previously sentenced him to 42 years, but Boonsong appealed the verdict. 

 

However, he lost the appeal as the panel of nine judges decided to uphold the previous verdict and added another six years to his sentence.

 

The court also convicted 14 other co-defendants involved in one of the largest corruption cases in Thailand’s history.

The verdict is related to the government-to-government rice scandal and the case was initiated after the military overthrew Yingluck’s government in the 2014 coup. 

 

The other key defendants who were given between four and 48 years in prison by the Supreme Court include former deputy commerce minister Poom Saraphol, former Foreign Trade Department chief Manat Soithong and his deputy Tikamporn Natvoratat, Boonsong’s former secretary Veeravuth Watjanabukkha, and well-known rice trader Apichart “Sia Piang” Chabsakulporn of Siam Indiga Company. 

 

The Supreme Court also handed down prison terms and fines to several other rice millers.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30375919

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-09-07

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[scorecard]

Does that mean big sister's case is getting closer?

[Puchaiyank]

Well...that appeals verdict should lighten the courts appeal cases...go to court to appeal a judgement and get additional time...can't make this stuff up!...LOL (Land of Laughs)

[RJRS1301]

48 years for fraud 

8 years or less for rape

Seems there is a disconnect in sentencing often

[sammieuk1]

That's what's known as heavy bird there must be another way of getting out of jail if only one could think of it????

[Chang_paarp]

24 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

48 years for fraud 

8 years or less for rape

Seems there is a disconnect in sentencing often

It all depends on who has an "interest" in your case.

[mania]

So will the current crew get the same later? Because are they not also now fixing prices of rice & rubber?

[robblok]

13 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

That's what's known as heavy bird there must be another way of getting out of jail if only one could think of it????

If he provides more information about who made him sign the fake G2G deals im sure he would get time reduced. Not sure he would live long after that. 

[robblok]

7 minutes ago, mania said:

So will the current crew get the same later? Because are they not also now fixing prices of rice & rubber?

Its not about the price fixing.. its about the fake G2G deals connected to the rice program. The one that made them sell rice to China (that was never exported) at a low price and then be sold at a high price back into the system. Making a lot of money for the crooks involved. 

 

That does not mean I am against price fixing and hope that the current MOB does some time on corruption if they can find cases.

[GalaxyMan]

51 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

48 years for fraud 

8 years or less for rape

Seems there is a disconnect in sentencing often

It's no different in the USSA. You can kill and rape all you'd like, but don't you dare steal money!!! ????

[AJBangkok]

Yeah But I wonder if he’s actually in Jail now or still out on some kind of appeal of some sort.

[jesimps]

1 hour ago, RJRS1301 said:

48 years for fraud 

8 years or less for rape

Seems there is a disconnect in sentencing often

Dutch guy who lived near me got 103 years for money laundering!

[tingtongtourist]

1 hour ago, GalaxyMan said:

It's no different in the USSA. You can kill and rape all you'd like, but don't you dare steal money!!! ????

Sure you can steal money, you either gotta be in the right industry or buy a licence.

[ChipButty]

How come the sister only got 5 years?

 

 

 

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 hour ago, AJBangkok said:

Yeah But I wonder if he’s actually in Jail now or still out on some kind of appeal of some sort.

 

Actually, there's no mention in the lousy Nation article of whether ANY of the 15 people sentenced here are/were actually in custody or how many of them previously had fled abroad, like their masters.

 

Boonsong, I believe, has been in prison already. All the others, I have no idea. Also no mention in the BK Post article of anything on the custody status on any of those convicted.

 

Ahh, but I see, Thai PBS seems to have a better accounting and details on custody status:

 

Quote

 

Boonsong and the 14 other co-defendants were escorted by prison officials to the Supreme Court in the morning to hear the final verdict. They were accompanied by their relatives, friends and lawyers.

...

Altogether 28 individuals, including officials of the Commerce Ministry and businessmen in the rice trade, were tried by the Supreme Court. Eight defendants, mostly businessmen, were acquitted and the remaining 15, including Boonsong, were convicted.

 

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/ex-commerce-minister-boonsong-faces-6-more-years-in-prison-in-final-court-verdict-in-the-g-to-g-rice-scandal/

 

So the group, except for Yingluck who got 5 years in absentia back in 2017 after having fled, seems to actually have been in prison.

[bristolgeoff]

the one above him i imagine the puppet to big brother,they have  escaped the goal term that will never happen (maybe).still  a mystery why she could get away so easy out of the country.i know some money was handed over,something went down then and the reason we will never know.

[Sir Swagman]

1 hour ago, tingtongtourist said:

Sure you can steal money, you either gotta be in the right industry or buy a licence.

Governments hate competition......

 

[kensisaket]

1 hour ago, AJBangkok said:

Yeah But I wonder if he’s actually in Jail now or still out on some kind of appeal of some sort.

I know someone who is a long time friend of his wife. He is in jail; and, not in good health.  I seriously doubt he'll be alive 2-3 years from now.

 

[robblok]

3 minutes ago, kensisaket said:

I know someone who is a long time friend of his wife. He is in jail; and, not in good health.  I seriously doubt he'll be alive 2-3 years from now.

 

He had enough money before, he should never have gotten involved in the corruption or given up the man who told him to proceed with the scheme. (he never wanted to give up that person probably bad for his health too)

[Swedenlars]

This sentence was given to make everybody happy. But as he was a former minister and part of the Thai high society he will never be in person for 48 years. Some years in a 5* star prison and he  will walk out again as a free man. The usual Thai way.

[kensisaket]

4 minutes ago, robblok said:

He had enough money before, he should never have gotten involved in the corruption or given up the man who told him to proceed with the scheme. (he never wanted to give up that person probably bad for his health too)

At that level there were probably threats made against his family if he talked.  

[crazykopite]

Yet a murderer will walk out after 5 years 

[robblok]

2 minutes ago, kensisaket said:

At that level there were probably threats made against his family if he talked.  

Quite probably, i really don't get it the guy was really rich already.. is it never enough for those corrupt crooks. I am happy at least some of them do jail time for corruption. Far too many escape punishment especially if the party they are connected too is in power.

[owl sees all]

21 minutes ago, kensisaket said:

I know someone who is a long time friend of his wife. He is in jail; and, not in good health.  I seriously doubt he'll be alive 2-3 years from now.

 

Good post.

 

I'll go further. If he doesn't get out, he will die in prison.

[Eric Loh]

14 minutes ago, robblok said:

Quite probably, i really don't get it the guy was really rich already.. is it never enough for those corrupt crooks. I am happy at least some of them do jail time for corruption. Far too many escape punishment especially if the party they are connected too is in power.

That’s why the whole justice system in Thailand is flawed as Edward Kennedy put it. 

“Do we operate under a system of equal justice under law? Or is there one system for the average citizen and another for the high and mighty?”.

 

[spidermike007]

Ever notice how the only ones who get convicted are from rival parties, and always an ex. Have you ever seen a current member of the administration, the police, immigration or customs arrested and convicted? Always an ex this, and an ex that. How very cowardly, and how very corrupt. 

 

More than likely he will only serve a few years in jail. The justice system here is so weak and anemic. 

[simtemple]

3 hours ago, RJRS1301 said:

48 years for fraud 

8 years or less for rape

Seems there is a disconnect in sentencing. 

How often are politicians from western style democracies jailed for their economic policies?

 

 

 

[losworld]

so is this guy in custody or is he available for a delayed runner to another locale?

[robblok]

7 minutes ago, simtemple said:

How often are politicians from western style democracies jailed for their economic policies?

 

 

 

He was not jailed for his policies, he was jailed for fakje G2G deals costing the state loads of money and enriching those involved. 

[Beggar]

They serve a lot of rice in Thai jails...