Asia-Pacific

Thai minister dismissed over rice sale deal

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-12-22 16:39

BANGKOK - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has ordered the dismissal of Vice Commerce Minister Veerasak Jinarat over his alleged involvement in irregularities in the ministry's rice sale scheme, Thai media reported Wednesday.

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Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said on Tuesday Veerasak's dismissal was ordered after the National Anti- Corruption Commission (NACC) submitted its report on the rice sale to the cabinet.

The cabinet authorized Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai to investigate the allegation.

NACC executives on Tuesday indicated to the cabinet that Veerasak had used money from the state student loan fund as a guarantee for a private firm to buy the Commerce Ministry rice.

Opposition Puea Thai MP for Bangkok Anudit Nakhornthap earlier alleged an associate of Veerasak had used 25 million baht ($830,000) from the student loan fund allocated to a technical college of which Veerasak is the rector as a guarantee for a private firm to release the rice from the stockpiles.

Porntiva said she had set up a committee, chaired by Permanent Secretary for Commerce Yanyong Puangraj, to investigate the alleged irregularities and come up with its findings within 30 days.

"If he is found guilty, he must take responsibility. But if he did nothing wrong, I will give him justice," Bangkok Post quoted Porntiva as saying.