105 replies to this topic
Posted 2009-08-16 07:55:40
 Old Man River, on 2009-08-15 21:23:18, said:
Would you by any chance have a list of all of the accused?
Not much information available I'm afraid..
Charge:
Violation of the State Bidding Act
Violation of the Bidding Collusion Act 1999
Violation of Articles 83, 157 and 351 of the Criminal Law
Case number: Black 4/2551
Politicians
Newin Chidchob
Somkid Jatusripitak
Varathep Ratanakorn
Sora-at Klinprathum
Adisai Bodharamik
Civil Servants
Rachen Potjanasunthorn (Former Director-General of the Foreign Trade Department)
Siripol Yodmuangcharoen ( Former Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade)
The Farmers Central Committee of Thailand
Companies
Charoen Pokphand Seeds
Resort Land
Ekcharoen
#52
brahmburgers
Posted 2009-08-16 08:33:07
Why aren't the Reds out in the streets with banners reading "Free Thaksin's 44 Rubber Robbers" ?
I predict there won't be any serious repercussions, for T or Newin or the others. At most they'll get a reprimand. Roughly translated: "You naughty boys. Don't you know to be more clandestine when doing your backroom deals?"
It's old business. The country's top jurists have already shown that they can't stand up to top power brokers - when they voted there was nothing wrong with T hiding his assets with his chauffeur and cleaning lady. Indeed, if the Thai supremes had done their job correctly at that early juncture, much of the Thaksin pollution and pap smear of ensuing years might have been avoided.
Edited by brahmburgers, 2009-08-16 08:57:10.
Posted 2009-08-16 11:18:53
brahmburgers, on 2009-08-16 08:33:07, said: Why aren't the Reds out in the streets with banners reading "Free Thaksin's 44 Rubber Robbers" ?
Because too many Red Shirts got hosed by the sapling deal.
But now want to blame Newin rather than Thaksin and all other cronies.
I really suspect Newin just worked with Thaksin for advantage at the time,
and never was trusting in Thaksin's long term viability anyway.
Just waiting for Team Thaksin to go ~Tits Up and leave.
In classic Thai political style.
Edited by animatic, 2009-08-16 11:19:28.
Posted 2009-08-17 06:02:07
Rubber-sapling verdict : D-day for Newin
Today is D-Day for the Supreme Court to rule on whether Newin Chidchob, currently the core leader of the coalition Bhum Jai Thai Party, is guilty of wrongdoing in the 1.4 Billion Baht rubber saplings project of a few years ago.
The now-defunct Assets Examination Committee (AEC) and National Counter Corruption Commission, now known as the National Anti-Corruption Commission, indicted 44 people, including Newin, for alleged involvement in irregularities in the procurement of 90 million saplings to dispense to farmers.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Supachai Phosu, a key member of Bhum Jai Thai Party, said Newin definitely would be present in court. His Party's key members would also attend to give Newin moral support.
Former Deputy Finance Minister Varathep Ratanakorn said he would be there to hear the court's ruling. He had not talked to others about whether they would all attend, but he believed they would.
"All are likely to go [to court] as they all are summoned. As far as I know, nobody has said [they will] not go. If any do not, [they] must have acceptable reasons," he said.
A source close to Sora-at Klinprathum said Sora-at would hear the ruling with the other defendants.
All had testified before the court in person according to legal requirements.
Prosecution lawyer Jessada Anujaree said on Friday today's verdict session could be delayed for 30 days if some of the 44 defendants informed the court they could not show up. However, the court might issue arrest warrants if they did not have sound reasons.
It is the second of 14 cases scrutinised by the AEC that has been forwarded to the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders.
The first case involved the controversial purchase of property on Ratchadaphisek Road, which ended with the sentencing of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to two years in jail for abuse of authority, causing Thaksin to flee abroad.
The NACC accused the 44 politicians and state officials of malfeasance in office, abuse of authority and fraud.
Besides Newin, four other defendants are important politicians, namely Somkid Jatusripitak, then the Deputy Prime Minister who Chaired a Committee on policies and measures to help farmers; Varathep Ratanakorn, then Deputy Finance Minister; Sora-at Klinprathum, then Agriculture Minister; and Adisai Bodharamik, then Commerce Minister.
Pheu Thai Party MPs and the red shirts had leaked news that Newin would take off and not appear before the court to hear the verdict. Newin denied the rumour, saying he would not run away.
"I am Thai, Thai nationality and I am ready to go through the country's justice system and I am bowing to the verdict to be handed down by the judges in every case. I will appear in court on August 17," he said.
Newin was Thaksin's right-hand man when he ran the project, but Newin changed sides and his new party helped spring the Democrat Party into government. This may be the reason why Newin is confident and ready to hear his fate in court.
Banjerd Singkaneti, Chairman of the AEC's committee that investigated the rubber sapling deal, said the case is totally up to the court to decide. He does not believe that Newin, as one of the defendants, would have any influence on the deliberation. "The judges will rule in accordance with the facts and evidence and will not drag politics into the case," he said.
Jessada Anujaree, acting as the NACC's attorney, said he had put together a solid case with enough incriminating evidence to bring the culprits to justice. Jessada said laws and regulations had been amended in favour of certain interest groups to commit bidding collusion.
Today's corruption scene was different from the past, he said, when politicians accepting kickbacks from bidders could be probed more easily by checking their connections.
"I hope the case - about graft at the policy-making level - will set a standard in anti-corruption investigations. The verdict is up to the court's judgement," he said.
-- The Nation 2009-08-17
Posted 2009-08-17 07:06:16
brahmburgers, on 2009-08-16 08:33:07, said: It's old business. The country's top jurists have already shown that they can't stand up to top power brokers - when they voted there was nothing wrong with T hiding his assets with his chauffeur and cleaning lady. Indeed, if the Thai supremes had done their job correctly at that early juncture, much of the Thaksin pollution and pap smear of ensuing years might have been avoided.
How true. An oppurtunity missed.
Posted 2009-08-17 09:29:13
Newin faces moment of truth
44 defendants to hear rubber saplings ruling
Heavyweight political playmaker Newin Chidchob faces a possible 20-year jail term today - his future hinging on the Supreme Court ruling on the controversial rubber sapling procurement project. "I am prepared for whatever the verdict will be," he told the Bangkok Post.
The Buriram politician said he "had nothing to be worried about" and would appear at the court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions today. "As long as I believe that I did not commit any wrongdoing, I have no reason to be scared," he said, adding that he would face his fate rather than run away.
The case involves 44 defendants but the spotlight is clearly on Newin, who played behind-the-scenes roles in the formation of the coalition government led by the Democrat Party. Other key defendants are former Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, former Deputy Finance Minister Varathep Ratanakorn, former Agriculture Minister Sora-at Klinprathum and former Commerce Minister Adisai Bodharamik.
Continued here:
http://www.bangkokpo...moment-of-truth
-- Bangkok Post 2009-08-17
Posted 2009-08-17 09:30:33
rixalex, on 2009-08-17 07:06:16, said: brahmburgers, on 2009-08-16 08:33:07, said: It's old business. The country's top jurists have already shown that they can't stand up to top power brokers - when they voted there was nothing wrong with T hiding his assets with his chauffeur and cleaning lady. Indeed, if the Thai supremes had done their job correctly at that early juncture, much of the Thaksin pollution and pap smear of ensuing years might have been avoided.
How true. An oppurtunity missed.
One might suspect they are now prepared to
clean up their mess and reputations as jurists after that debacle.
Posted 2009-08-17 10:03:32
rixalex, on 2009-08-17 07:06:16, said: brahmburgers, on 2009-08-16 08:33:07, said: It's old business. The country's top jurists have already shown that they can't stand up to top power brokers - when they voted there was nothing wrong with T hiding his assets with his chauffeur and cleaning lady. Indeed, if the Thai supremes had done their job correctly at that early juncture, much of the Thaksin pollution and pap smear of ensuing years might have been avoided.
How true. An oppurtunity missed.
we would do well to recall that large mobs and public shows of support for Thaksin were instrumental in ensuring that the judges were leant on heavily enough to issue the 'right decision' from a TRT perspective, when under the law it was quite clear he had breached the 1997 constitution (the one that he ignored in a few other matters, but now suddenly claims to be all perfect and great and everything).
As I was walking to get a taxi this morning, and coped a nice round of abuse and nearly had a punch up with a motorcycling red shirter this morning (he thought I was calling him over for a fight, directly behind him was a taxi that I was hailing; even after getting in the taxi he and his mates didn't believe that I didn't want to start a fight and I had to endure a 2 min tirade of swear words and a healthy dose of Somtam smelling bad breath) presumably on his way to the rally; I cannot feel that this is deja vu - the same situation once again all over where popular opinion rather than the rule of the law may take favour.
I trust the courts will make a more appropriate decision this time, both with regards to the pardon and also for the rubber saplings case.
Posted 2009-08-17 10:27:08
steveromagnino, on 2009-08-17 04:03:32, said: rixalex, on 2009-08-17 07:06:16, said: brahmburgers, on 2009-08-16 08:33:07, said: It's old business. The country's top jurists have already shown that they can't stand up to top power brokers - when they voted there was nothing wrong with T hiding his assets with his chauffeur and cleaning lady. Indeed, if the Thai supremes had done their job correctly at that early juncture, much of the Thaksin pollution and pap smear of ensuing years might have been avoided.
How true. An oppurtunity missed.
we would do well to recall that large mobs and public shows of support for Thaksin were instrumental in ensuring that the judges were leant on heavily enough to issue the 'right decision' from a TRT perspective, when under the law it was quite clear he had breached the 1997 constitution (the one that he ignored in a few other matters, but now suddenly claims to be all perfect and great and everything).
As I was walking to get a taxi this morning, and coped a nice round of abuse and nearly had a punch up with a motorcycling red shirter this morning (he thought I was calling him over for a fight, directly behind him was a taxi that I was hailing; even after getting in the taxi he and his mates didn't believe that I didn't want to start a fight and I had to endure a 2 min tirade of swear words and a healthy dose of Somtam smelling bad breath) presumably on his way to the rally; I cannot feel that this is deja vu - the same situation once again all over where popular opinion rather than the rule of the law may take favour.
I trust the courts will make a more appropriate decision this time, both with regards to the pardon and also for the rubber saplings case.
Ignoring the give away petty bourgeois abuse of the working class (somtum smelling bad breath etc), I'm not sure why directed -or to be kind let's say authority influenced - court decisions are any better now than those made under Thaksin.
Posted 2009-08-17 10:53:44
jayboy, on 2009-08-17 10:27:08, said: Ignoring the give away petty bourgeois abuse of the working class (somtum smelling bad breath etc), I'm not sure why directed -or to be kind let's say authority influenced - court decisions are any better now than those made under Thaksin.
Some might feel that it is not appropriate to suggest that the working class are unique in having somtam smelling bad breath; so I trust that readers are quite aware of the difference between generalisations and statements of fact - I was less than a foot away from his mouth and acutely aware of the distance from his fist to my face so yes, I 'was there' - in no way do I mean to suggest that he is representative of the working class,but certainly quite representative of the tactic of drumming up a mob/crowd to push whatever agenda is popular; yellow shirt, red shirt, asset declaration avoidance, etc etc.
So for court decisions, I simply hope the courts will rule on the basis of the law. And not some popularity contest. The asset declaration decision was a travesty. Hopefully the decisions in coming days will not be.
Edited by steveromagnino, 2009-08-17 11:02:56.
Posted 2009-08-17 11:03:53
steveromagnino, on 2009-08-17 03:53:44, said: jayboy, on 2009-08-17 10:27:08, said: Ignoring the give away petty bourgeois abuse of the working class (somtum smelling bad breath etc), I'm not sure why directed -or to be kind let's say authority influenced - court decisions are any better now than those made under Thaksin.
The guy stank and his breath was obviously from either somtam or something else similar, was abusive and was having a go at me in my neighbourhood, probably not his. He was riding a motorcycle, dressed poorly even counting his nice new truth today T shirt, used extremely collaquial accented Thai; I can guess fairly accurately what sort of education and income the guy has as he was less than a foot away from me ready to take action while I was peacefully sitting in the taxi. What do you want me to describe him as - a supreme court justice on his way to work 55555555555555
As for court decisions, I simply hope the courts will rule on the basis of the law. And not some popularity contest.
As to your first paragraph, particularly the comment on education and income, it says more about you and your attitudes than you could possibly imagine.
As to your second paragraph I agree whether the popularity is courted from the hoi polloi (not very likely) or the elite.However history has taught us to have very low expectations.
Posted 2009-08-17 11:11:13
An interesting decison today and apparently the court can choose to rule if some no show. That is up to the judges.
Now if Newin goes down accepts his time and then after a while asks for a pardon complete with apologies and accepting responsibility for actions you get just about the worst case for red strategists or at least the Thaksinista red strategists. Interesting. Of course it will never happen
Posted 2009-08-17 11:51:07
Newin is not afraid of spending sometime in jail, if it earns him a lot of political capital. That would also mean he burned all the bridges with Thaksin and throws him a challenge.
That might soudn impossible - but he really has no choice, has he?
He might also get a pardon for TRT dissolution case. Then he might call for elections, with Somkid at his side.
Posted 2009-08-17 13:46:51
Plus, on 2009-08-17 11:51:07, said: Newin is not afraid of spending sometime in jail,
would that cause a rush for the exits ? a precedent like that would cause a lot of worry
Posted 2009-08-17 13:50:15
Police deployed at Supreme Court
About 1,000 police have been deployed outside and inside the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions ahead of the reading of the verdict in the rubber sapling case scheduled for 2pm.
About 700 police have been positioned outside and 300 inside the court. People who are not concerned with the case will not be allowed inside. Closed-circuit television sets have been installed outside the courtroom for the mass media to cover the news. Journalists are not allowed to take pictures inside the courtroom. The nine judges were holding a secret meeting in the morning to consider charges against each of the 44 defendants before making their own verdicts. The reading of the verdict is scheduled for 2pm.
As of noon, supporters of Newin Chidchob, one of the defendants, have not yet shown up at the court.
Continued here:
http://www.bangkokpo...t-supreme-court
-- Bangkok Post 2009-08-17
Posted 2009-08-17 14:19:39
2 pm: The Supreme Court will any minute read the much-anticipated Newin verdict. A ruling has been made, we know that much. Whether Newin will escape a jail term for malfeasance remains to be seen. Very few Newin supporters have shown up at the court, largely because Newin had urged his followers to stay away to avoid causing trouble.
-- The Nation 2009-08-17
Posted 2009-08-17 14:26:24
stumonster, on 2009-08-17 13:46:51, said: Plus, on 2009-08-17 11:51:07, said: Newin is not afraid of spending sometime in jail,
would that cause a rush for the exits ? a precedent like that would cause a lot of worry
When was the last time a Thai politician went to jail? They just head overseas (magically, the authorities forget to secure their passports in advance of the verdict).
Posted 2009-08-17 14:29:45
*oops, wrong thread.
Edited by sriracha john, 2009-08-17 14:30:19.
Posted 2009-08-17 15:03:57
sriracha john, on 2009-08-12 06:44:20, said: Among those who have been accused in the case are:
former Commerce Minister Adisai Photaramik
Former Commerce Minister Adisak Potharamik did not attend the court session Monday to hear the ruling in the rubber sampling corruption case.
All other 43 suspects attended the session, but Adisai sent his lawyer to inform the call that he was sick and was receiving a treatment overseas.
-- The Nation 2009-08-17
Posted 2009-08-17 15:21:07
Quote When was the last time a Thai politician went to jail? They just head overseas (magically, the authorities forget to secure their passports in advance of the verdict).
Here we go!
Quote Former Commerce Minister Adisak Potharamik did not attend the court session Monday to hear the ruling in the rubber sampling corruption case.
All other 43 suspects attended the session, but Adisai sent his lawyer to inform the call that he was sick and was receiving a treatment overseas.
Suprised he's not the only one that's done a runner. Maybe the rest are innocent 
Posted 2009-08-17 15:27:31
43 of em make it and only one cowardly old hand job runs away. Not bad really.
Posted 2009-08-17 15:29:43
Supreme Court issues arrest warrant against Adisai
The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Office Monday issued an arrest warrant against former commerce minister Adisai Potharamik after he failed to go to the court to hear the ruling in the rubber sapling case Monday afternoon.
Since Adisai failed to show up, the court postponed the verdict reading to September 21.
Adisai sent his lawyer to tell the court that he was ill with backbone pain and needed to receive a treatment in the United States from July 15 to August 30.
The court also fined the guarantor of Adisai for Bt1 million for failing to have him appear in court.
-- The Nation 2009-08-17
Posted 2009-08-17 15:29:48
It'd be great to see a fair (non-politically biased) verdict with some cheats ending up in jail...
I can't see that any of them would be 'prepared' to do some time in jail to earn respect or whatever; these folk don't know the meaning of anything other than cheat: scam: win: me: repeat:
Surely Nevin's deal with the army / Dems included keeping him out of jail this time... the political picture is too volatile for him to be prepared to take one step away from the core of the action.
"Since Adisai failed to show up, the court postponed the verdict reading to September 21." - this did look like the most obvious result for today...
Edited by jasreeve17, 2009-08-17 15:32:13.
Posted 2009-08-17 15:31:03
Does the missing defendant not delay the reading of the verdict, and most likely call for a 30 day postponement on the slim hope that all 44 will show up at that time?
Posted 2009-08-17 15:33:10
Hog Head, on 2009-08-17 15:31:03, said: Does the missing defendant not delay the reading of the verdict, and most likely call for a 30 day postponement on the slim hope that all 44 will show up at that time?
Done while I was composing this question
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