Kittiratt Na-Ranong’s political future looks more promising after his acquittal by the Supreme Court in a case involving a controversial rice sale to Indonesia.
In July, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions dismissed the malfeasance case against Kittiratt, a former deputy prime minister and commerce minister in Yingluck Shinawatra’s administration, in connection with the sale of rice to Indonesia in 2011.
The indictment, filed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, alleged that Kittiratt was aware that the exporter, Siam Indica, had been favoured by the Public Warehouse Organisation (PWO) to supply rice to Bulog, the Indonesian food agency.
Attorney General Phairach Pornsomboonsiri signed an order not to appeal Kittiratt’s acquittal late last week.
This decision clears the way for Kittiratt to be nominated as chairman of the Bank of Thailand’s (BOT) board.
The candidates also include Kulit Sombatsiri, former permanent secretary of energy, and Surapol Nitikraipot, president of the Thammasat University Council and an independent member of PTT Corporation’s board.
On November 4, the committee tasked with selecting the next chairman of the BOT board postponed its meeting to next Monday, citing the need for more time to review relevant information before making a decision.
Four former central bank governors, former staff members of the central bank and academics have called on the selection committee to choose a candidate with integrity and without political affiliations.
