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Published on September 26, 2007

Veera said Aree might have violated Article 100 of the National Counter Corruption Act, because a firm in which he holds shares entered into contracts last year with the Provincial Administration Department.

From January 2006 to August 2007, the agency bought food from Kuang Pei San Food Products. Aree holds 30,000 shares worth Bt300,000 in the firm, he said.

The contracts are worth Bt3 million. Two of the three deals were made during the current government, he added.

Aree also holds two million shares worth Bt20 million in Trang Sure, a subsidiary of Kuang Pei San Food Products, Veera said.

Article 100 of the Act bans government officials and their spouses from entering into or having interests in contracts made with state agencies under their authorisation.

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife have been charged with violating this law in the Ratchadaphisek land case.

Aree said none of the firms in which he has stakes had any contracts with the government.

NCCC spokesman Klanarong Chantik said the agency had agreed to investigate whether there was any contract between the government and the companies in which three ministers held shares while in office. Deputy Commerce Minister Oranuj Osatananda and Information and Communications Technology Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom have stated they will soon leave the Cabinet following the revelations.

The NCCC found that Aree had also held 20 per cent in a company since November 1995, which meant he was holding the shares while deputy education minister in the Thaksin government. Klanarong said Aree should have been disqualified then. Nevertheless, the NCCC will report to the National Legislative Assembly to consider his status.

Aree said he had not been informed about the law when he was a deputy education minister, claiming to have declared his assets transparently and truthfully.

Hassaya Chartmontri,

Wattana Khamchoo

The Nation