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Boonsong gets 42 years, Poom 36 years in rice sales case
The Supreme Court for politicians has sentenced former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom to 42 years in jail and his former deputy Poom Sarapol to 36 years in the government-to-government rice sales case.
The court denied their bail requests, as well as those of other defendants in the case, citing the gravity of the crimes.
Manas Soiploy, former chief of the Foreign Trade Department, was sentenced to 40 years in prison while his deputy Tikhumporn Natvaratat got 32 years. Akharapong Theepwatchara, ex-director of the department's Rice Trade Administration Bureau, got 24 years.
Apichart Chansakulporn, an executive of the rice exporter Siam Indica Co Ltd, was sentenced to 48 years. Along with his company, he was also ordered to pay 16.9 billion baht in damages to the Finance Ministry.
Boonsong, Phumi moved to Klong Prem Central Prison
Former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, former deputy commerce minister Phumi Saraphol and five others convicted in the government-to-government rice deal case were moved from Bangkok Remand Prison to Klong Prem Central Prison on Saturday afternoon.
Korbkiart Kasiwiwat, director general of the Corrections Department, told reporters at 2.30pm that Boonsong, Phumi and five other prisoners had been transferred to the reception zone at Klong Prem.
He said the rules required inmates with jail terms of more than 15 years to be detained at Klong Prem.
On Friday, Boonsong was sentenced to 42 years in jail, while Phumi was given a 36-year term for approving four government-to-government rice export deals with China that turned out to be bogus. The deals were said to have caused massive financial damage to taxpayers
Renowned legal expert Meechai Ruchuphan has advised former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, who was sentenced to 42 years in jail, to speak out about the mastermind behind the corrupt rice deals if he wants to survive in an appeal.
Mr Meechai, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC), said Boonsong can still fight the case through existing legal channels.
Boonsong and 16 others were found guilty by the Supreme Court last week in a case concerning fake government-to-government rice deals.
Under the new constitution, he can allow his lawyer to submit an appeal against the Supreme Court's ruling and lodge it at the general meeting of the Supreme Court within 30 days of the ruling.
"Anyone who really values their life must fight for it through any available channel. But if he [Boonsong] is worried about how it would affect others, then it is a case of martyrdom," Mr Meechai said.
He was responding to a message posted on Facebook by former Prime Minister's Office secretary-general Suranand Vejjajiva, expressing compassion for his close friend Boonsong.
In the post, Mr Suranand wrote about how after the 2014 coup, he asked Boonsong if he could "tell me how the story goes", saying he admired the spirit of his friend, who replied: "I can't talk about it."
He also asked Boonsong: "Who helps you handle these issues? They look scary." Boonsong said he had a "team".
Mr Meechai said although Boonsong is in custody and has been denied bail, he still has the right to appeal.
He said the judges must carefully consider granting bail. A few years ago, a judge was fired over granting bail to a defendant who jumped bail.
Meanwhile, Boonsong's lawyer yesterday visited his client at Klongprem Central Prison in Chatuchak district yesterday.
Narin Somnuek said his client was tense and suffered chronic sinus problems and allergies, adding he was not eating or sleeping well.
"Boonsong asked me to seek bail quickly," said Mr Narin, adding that he expects to petition the court to seek bail for his client today.
In a related development, the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases will rule today whether to accept a case in which state officials were accused of committing malfeasance by seizing assets from Boonsong's wife, Poyjairaphee.
Ms Poyjairaphee lodged the complaint against the Legal Execution Department and the Department of Foreign Trade, saying two of her bank accounts had been frozen."
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