While the fire which broke out on the second floor of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives last evening has already been extinguished, many questions remain regarding alleged widespread corruption in the ministry, pertaining to illegal pork and chicken imports, extortion in the Rice Department and aircraft procurement for the Royal Rain-making and Agricultural Aviation Department.
An electrical short circuit is initially being blamed for the fire in a wing of the building close to the office of Deputy Agriculture Minister Chaiya Promma. Forensic officers checked the scene of the fire today for clues as to the exact cause of the blaze.
Chaiya is assigned to oversee the Department of Livestock Development, the Royal Rain-making and Agricultural Aviation Department, the Queen Sirikit Sericulture Department and the Dairy Farming Promotion Organisation of Thailand.
