Former commerce minister sentenced 42 years in jail in bogus rice deal

BANGKOK, Aug 25 (TNA) - The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on Friday sentenced a former commerce minister to 42 years in jail in the fake government-to-government rice deal case. He has the right to appeal the verdict in 30 days. Another defendant, former deputy commerce minister Poom Sarapol was sentenced to 36 years in jail and other former senior Commerce Ministry officials were handed down jail terms. The defendants have been in charge of bogus rice deals between the Thai and Chinese governments during the Yingluck Shinawatra administration. The rice trading contracts were done with a company, which did not represent the Chinese government under the government to government rice deal, the company was exempted from competition and the rice was sold at lower prices, which cause huge loss to the state. (TNA)