The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders found both of them guilty of violating Article 157 of the Criminal Code and Article 17 of Offences Relating to the Submission of Bids to Government Act 1999.

The Attorney General filed a lawsuit on March 31, 2015, against Chucheep 72, who was once an executive of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, and Withaya Thienthong, 75, a former Thai Rak Thai MP.

The Court said the defendants failed to check irregularities in the bidding even though the Agriculture Ministry’s permanent secretary had called on them to suspend the procurement and check corruption allegations.