Ex-commerce minister Boonsong ruled ‘unusually wealthy’

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has found convicted former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom to be “unusually wealthy” after he amassed 107 million baht in illicit assets.

NACC Secretary-General Surapong Intharathavorn told the media today that, while serving as commerce minister in 2012 and 2013, Boonsong earned a total of about two million baht in salary, allowances and payments from his role as chairman of the

National Rice Policy Committee. He also earned about 200,000 baht annually from land rental income.

During the same period, however, huge amounts of money were transferred from unidentified sources into the bank accounts of Boonsong, his wife, his children and two companies he founded, Surapong said, adding the former commerce minister could not provide documentation explaining how or from where he acquired the wealth.

The NACC will now submit its findings to the court through the Office of the Attorney-General, seeking the confiscation of the 107 million baht in assets.

Boonsong and several senior commerce officials were sentenced to 48 years in prison by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions in 2019.

The case centred on his involvement in the rice-pledging scheme scandal during the administration of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom (R) reported to the Office of Probation in Chiang Mai in December 2024 after being released from prison under an imprisonment suspension program.

His sentence was later reduced to 10 years through royal commutation and, in December 2024, he was released on parole.