Listen to this articleFormer commerce minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong was indicted in 2021 in connection with a rice sale to Indonesia a decade earlier, and acquitted of malfeasance this year. In its ruling, the Supreme Court said Mr Kittiratt did not neglect his duty because the information regarding the rice sale and handover was handled by his deputy, Phum Sarapol. It said Mr Kittiratt knew that Siam Indica had been chosen to supply the additional quantity of rice without a bid being called. Mr Kittiratt served in the Yingluck Shinawatra government and has long been close to senior Pheu Thai Party figures. The government has proposed Mr Kittiratt for the position, but critics see a risk of political interference.
