Former Agriculture Minister Chalermchai Sri-on categorically denied today that he had anything to do with the illegal importation of frozen pork, in which his personal secretary has been implicated.
Somkiat Korpaisal, Chalermchai’s aide, is being held in custody by the Department of Special Investigation for questioning over his alleged involvement in the trade.
More than 10,000 cargo containers, containing frozen pork worth about 7 billion baht, were illegally imported into Thailand from 2020 to 2023 by a group of operators in the frozen food business, allegedly with the connivance of Customs, Livestock Development and Fisheries department officials.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday morning, Chalermchai, leader of the Democrat party, admitted, however, that Somkiat is one of his relatives, adding that some “elements” have been trying to use the family connection to implicate him.
He explained that, when he assumed office about four years ago, he designated his deputy, Prapat Pothasuthon, to act on his behalf, whenever he was engaged in other business, and to oversee the Livestock Development Department.
He said, however, that that he was briefly involved in the affairs of the Livestock Development Department and in the crackdown on illegal pork when African swine fever was spreading.
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