Imprisoned former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom has asked his wife to withdraw the lawsuit she filed against two senior state officials and their departments for alleged malfeasance in the seizure of her bank accounts.
Boonsong's lawyer, Narin Somnuek, announced the move on Tuesday after taking his client's wife, Poyjairaphee Teriyapirom, their two sons and Boonsong’s younger brother to visit him at Klong Prem Prison.
He said the lawsuit would be withdrawn on Wednesday.
Boonsong did not want his wife to be a target, he said, but refused to elaborate. Boonsong also sought cooperation from the media, asking they not bother his wife.
Mr Narin said earlier he intends to file a second application for his client's release on bail pending an appeal. The first request, on Friday, was rejected.
He said on Tuesday he would submit the bail request next week. There was no problem regarding surety for bail, the Daily News reported.
Ms Poyjairaphee filed the suit against the Legal Execution Department and its director-general Ms Ruenwadee Suwanmongkhol, and the Foreign Trade Department and it's director-general Ms Duangporn Rodpayat. All are under the Commerce Ministry.
Ms Poyjairaphee alleged malfeasance under Section 157 of Criminal Code over the seizure of two of her bank accounts.
She filed the case after the husband was ordered to pay 1.76 billion baht in compensation for losses caused to the state by bogus government-to-government rice sales when he was commerce minister.
Boonsong was sentenced to 42 years in jail by the court last Friday. The Execution Department has begun seizing his assets.
Ms Poyjairapee owned two of the bank accounts which were seized. She claims this violated Section 157 of the Criminal Code.
The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases had been due to give its decision whether to accept the case or not on Tuesday. The plaintiff did not appear in court, but assigned her lawyer to hear the decision.
The court postponed the decision, saying it wanted the plaintiff to explain why the bank accounts were included in Mr Boonsong's earlier assets declaration to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. The court asked her to clarify the matter in court on Aug 31.
The court said it would announce whether it will accept the case for consideration or not on Sept 21.
