Key ex-Thaksin ministers, associates in court on rubber tree corruption case

BANGKOK, Sept 23 (TNA) - Forty-four members and associates of the former
cabinet of ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra went on trial in Bangkok
today, two years and a few days after Thailand's military said "enough"
and removed the then government by threat of bayonet rather than the
ballot box.

As the defendants made their way into the courtroom they refused to answer
questions from members of the media.

Thailand remains divided along party, ideological and sentimental lines,
the country's judiciary is working methodically through a roster of cases
affecting many areas of government.

Under stern admonition from His Majesty the King to rise to the
seriousness of the task and to protect the instruments of state and
society, the Thai Supreme Court Criminal Division for Holders of Political
Positions Tuesday opened hearings at which 44 members of the Thaksin
Cabinet -- reflecting a significant slice of Thailand's urban elite -- as
the defendants walked into court to face charges in a complicated scheme
to supply rubber saplings to farmers throughout the country.

The trial opened with former key ministers of Thaksin administration
attending the hearing including former deputy prime minister and finance
minister Somkid Jatusripitak--once viewed as a prospective prime minister,
former deputy finance minister Varathep Ratanakorn, former deputy minister
of agriculture and cooperatives Newin Chidchob, former agriculture
minister Sorra-at Klinprathum, and former commerce minister Adisai
Photaramik.

The court action is its first trial in the large-scale corruption
regarding rubber saplings iinvolving 44 persons, including the five former
government ministers, were allegedly involved.

Jessada Anujaree, a lawyer representing the now defunct Assets Examination
Committee (AEC) and responsible for prosecuting the case, said the trial
started at 10 am and that all 44 defendants were ordered to appear at the
first hearing.

The defendants were allegedly involved in the Bt1.44 billion (about
US$42.6 million) in a rubber sapling supply project in which the former
government of Thaksin Shinawatra awarded contracts to private companies to
grow 90 million saplings.

Three private companies were charged, including a subsidiary of Thailand's
largest agro-industrial conglomerate, the Charoen Pokphand Group better
known as the CP Group.

The subsidiary, Charoen Pokphand Seeds, and the other two companies are
alleged to have been involved in the procurement and were charged with
supplying poor quality rubber saplings to farmers, i.e. small trees that
failed to mature when replanted.

The court accepted the case for hearing on August 6 and allowed the
National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) to become the plaintiff,
replacing the AEC which is now dissolved.