CAR DEALER TO BE CALLED FOR QUESTIONING OVER TAX DODGE

>> The jet-set owner of a car import company could be called for questioning after his firm was accused of being part of a tax evasion network, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) says.

The move came after the DSI seized a total of 160 luxury cars worth 3 billion baht during raids on May 18 and 24, with the vehicles suspected of being falsely declared to avoid Thailand’s high import taxes.

Among them were cars taken from STT Autocar Co in its Ratchadaphisek and Sukhumvit shops, owned by Panusak Techaterasiri, or Boy Unity, who enjoys a lavish lifestyle, DSI deputy director-general Korawat Panprapakorn said. STT Autocar Co representatives were not available for comment yesterday.

“If the DSI finds he committed the offence, the DSI will summon him for questioning and later bring charges against him,” said Pol Lt Col Korawat.

One of the vehicles seized from the company is a green Lamborghini Huracan. It is reportedly owned by a singer with a name starting with “D”. Pol Lt Col Korawat however said he was not aware of this information and evidence needs to be examined first.

According to police sources, the Economic Crime Suppression Division in 2015 raided STT Autocar Co at the entrance of Ratchadaphisek Soi 16 following a complaint that a luxury car bought from the company could not be registered because the import tax on the vehicle had not been paid.

Meanwhile, the Customs Department has vowed to look into possible malfeasance committed by its officials in the wake of the car tax evasion scandal.

The task will be carried out by the Customs Department’s ethics committee chaired by former National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) member Vicha Mahakun, said Kulit Sombatsiri, directorgeneral of the department.

The DSI also revealed on Friday that 12 luxury cars were stolen and then smuggled into Thailand from Britain, citing the British National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service.

Ten of the vehicles have been located after the DSI checked the engine numbers of registered imports.

Mr Kulit said the Customs Department and the DSI are working together to probe the tax avoidance scheme.

The DSI obtained information on the prices of luxury cars from foreign justice authorities and the Customs Department will use this information to compare prices quoted by the importers of lavish vehicles from 2012 to determine whether they are different, he said.

Mr Kulit said the car importers believed to be involved in the offence will be probed on a case-by-case basis.

A Customs Department source said the department is now willing to tidy up its organisation in relation to the case since its officials were alleged to have allowed a large number of tax evading luxury vehicles to pass through customs clearance.

There could be a network behind this and several officials are under investigation by the NACC, the source noted.

The source said customs officials have always claimed they need to refer to prices declared by importers since officials have no information on the car prices.

The Customs Department will come up with a new system in which information on luxury vehicles will be put into a database, with a watch list of importers who have a habit of dodging tax set up, the source said.

Meanwhile, a businessman who used to run a luxury car and super car business, but asked not to be named, said it was impossible that the Customs Department did not know the prices of luxury and super cars.

“Super cars and luxury cars have been coming to Thailand for decades,” he said. “Don’t you think someone would have declared the price and paid taxes honestly? For the cars of similar models, don’t you think there is some sort of reference?”

He said that when he declared the prices of his cars, Thai customs officers knew exactly what he was declaring.