DSI's new super-car list targets Thailand's rich

[webfact]

DSI's new super-car list targets rich
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Several high-profile figures are on the newly released list of owners of reassembled luxury vehicles that the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) says it will check to determine if any are involved in tax evasion.

Among those listed are Thongmakut Thongyai, CEO of SCB Securities, and AVM Chaiyapruk Didyasarin.

Pol Lt-Colonel Korawat Panprapakorn, a senior official at DSI, revealed the "big names" to reporters yesterday.

These names were assembled from among owners of reassembled vehicles worth more than Bt4 million at today's market rates.

The new list follows the 488 names released on Monday, who the DSI said, would be required to bring in their luxury cars for inspection.

Sergeant Worapoj Phetkhum, owner of a luxury car on Monday's list, said he would take legal action against the seller if inspection of his Mazda RX8 sports car shows it had been modified to avoid taxes.

"I bought it more than a year ago for Bt1.3million. It's a second-hand car," Worapoj said.

The DSI has launched a serious investigation into tax-evading vehicles after nobody stepped forward to claim ownership of the six luxury cars that mysteriously caught fire on a transporter late last month.

Among the six vehicles was a Bentley with trading plates that were initially linked to a company called Born to Run Co Ltd. However, the company claimed it had no knowledge of the car.

Born To Run's representative, Siriporn Darak, met with DSI investigators yesterday to clear up any doubts about her firm's involvement. She was accompanied by her lawyer Pissanu Panichsuk.

"We have never used the trading plates found on the Bentley in question.

"We hope our testimonies will be useful to the DSI investigation and assist the department in discovering the truth about the vehicle," Pissanu said.

He added that the firm had hired someone called Sudburi Prom-thamma to acquire 50 trading plates in 2009 and did not know if he had used the firm's documents in getting more plates than the agreed number.

"Let's prove the matter first - it will be fairer to both sides," said Pissanu.

Korawat said the DSI would summon Sudburi for questioning, because available records at the firm showed none of the 50 plates matched the registered number of the plate found on the Bentley.

"We will also submit the license plate found on the Bentley to the Land Transport Department for inspection," Korawat said.

-- The Nation 2013-06-15

[Thai at Heart]

I love how these scandal stories come out in the papers on Friday nights and Saturdays to give them all weekend to defuse.

[Bellweather]

The DSI is summonsing all concerned to appear for interview on a date at their convenience sometime in the next 50 years.

[chainarong]

One hopes DSI targets all political inclinations and not just the rich in the democrats party, money will change hands and not all will face the music, the usual procedure in Thailand.

[EyesWideOpen]

Is that Chalerm's Bentley with a new paint job ?? :-) I am frankly astounded that the DSI is actually releasing names of owners. Especially since I sad in an earlier post that would never happen... Would love to see a political breakdown of people on the list of " big names". I am going to make a wild guess and say that you will not see Chalerm's name nor that of any Shinawatra family member on the list..

[Chrisswe]

Not surprised ! They stay behind most of big crime in this country !

[jalansanitwong]

This is starting to look like a deliberate diversionary tactic to draw attention away from the Rice pledge altough both may be interconnected.

We are to believe that gov authorities have only now discovered that rich people are scamming the tax department out of billions of bahts on

luxury imports. Its been going on for many years.

Who are they going to investigate? Alot of these guys are protected by armed body guards most of whom are mentally unhinged ex cops and soldiers.

They'll probably arrest a 67 year old farang driving an unregistered Toyota corolla in pattaya.

WE GOT HIM!!

WELL DONE bib !

[geriatrickid]

This is starting to look like a deliberate diversionary tactic to draw attention away from the Rice pledge altough both may be interconnected.

We are to believe that gov authorities have only now discovered that rich people are scamming the tax department out of billions of bahts on

luxury imports. Its been going on for many years.

Who are they going to investigate? Alot of these guys are protected by armed body guards most of whom are mentally unhinged ex cops and soldiers.

They'll probably arrest a 67 year old farang driving an unregistered Toyota corolla in pattaya.

WE GOT HIM!!

WELL DONE bib !

Ahh, so basically, your argument is that the failure of the previous Abhisit led government to take action means that the current government should continue his administration's previous lack of law enforcement. Interesting opinion.

[meatboy]

One hopes DSI targets all political inclinations and not just the rich in the democrats party, money will change hands and not all will face the music, the usual procedure in Thailand.

what no expats on the list?

[jalansanitwong]

This is starting to look like a deliberate diversionary tactic to draw attention away from the Rice pledge altough both may be interconnected.

We are to believe that gov authorities have only now discovered that rich people are scamming the tax department out of billions of bahts on

luxury imports. Its been going on for many years.

Who are they going to investigate? Alot of these guys are protected by armed body guards most of whom are mentally unhinged ex cops and soldiers.

They'll probably arrest a 67 year old farang driving an unregistered Toyota corolla in pattaya.

WE GOT HIM!!

WELL DONE bib !

Ahh, so basically, your argument is that the failure of the previous Abhisit led government to take action means that the current government should continue his administration's previous lack of law enforcement. Interesting opinion.

The Thai way is to create the perception theyre enforcing the law not actually following it through. Do you think 488 hi-so thais are going to be hauled in and pay billions of baht.

This story will eventually blow over like all others.

They might wheel in a few vehicle owners who have fallen out of favour or stepped on the wrong toes. Thats about it.

[Spoonman]

Heard that a few high end cars that run in the Thailand Super Car series (and are currently still in Sepang after the season opener race) have been told to not bring the vehicles back to Thailand

[GentlemanJim]

This is starting to look like a deliberate diversionary tactic to draw attention away from the Rice pledge altough both may be interconnected.

We are to believe that gov authorities have only now discovered that rich people are scamming the tax department out of billions of bahts on

luxury imports. Its been going on for many years.

Who are they going to investigate? Alot of these guys are protected by armed body guards most of whom are mentally unhinged ex cops and soldiers.

They'll probably arrest a 67 year old farang driving an unregistered Toyota corolla in pattaya.

WE GOT HIM!!

WELL DONE bib !

Ahh, so basically, your argument is that the failure of the previous Abhisit led government to take action means that the current government should continue his administration's previous lack of law enforcement. Interesting opinion.

Wow GK, but but but Abhisit! Why don't you have a Saturday morning lay in.

If I were named by this mob like this I would use Thai law to its full extent and sue their asses off.

[Thai at Heart]

This is starting to look like a deliberate diversionary tactic to draw attention away from the Rice pledge altough both may be interconnected.

We are to believe that gov authorities have only now discovered that rich people are scamming the tax department out of billions of bahts on

luxury imports. Its been going on for many years.

Who are they going to investigate? Alot of these guys are protected by armed body guards most of whom are mentally unhinged ex cops and soldiers.

They'll probably arrest a 67 year old farang driving an unregistered Toyota corolla in pattaya.

WE GOT HIM!!

WELL DONE bib !

Ahh, so basically, your argument is that the failure of the previous Abhisit led government to take action means that the current government should continue his administration's previous lack of law enforcement. Interesting opinion.

Wow GK, but but but Abhisit! Why don't you have a Saturday morning lay in.

If I were named by this mob like this I would use Thai law to its full extent and sue their asses off.

Bizarre isn't it. Commit huge crimes and get protection from being named. Buy a dodgy car and they throw your name everywhere even though they haven't provably done anything illegal yet.

[barrybankruad]

How come a lowly Sergeant (doesn't say Police or Army) afford to own a fancy sports car, even if it is said to be second hand. OK he may have private means, but it does seem a bit 'iffy'.

[GentlemanJim]

How come a lowly Sergeant (doesn't say Police or Army) afford to own a fancy sports car, even if it is said to be second hand. OK he may have private means, but it does seem a bit 'iffy'.

There are many many more like him in the police force. The Sarge i know has a BM and wears a pair of 50k designer glasses not bad for 17 k per month

[jalansanitwong]

THAI AT HEART...... i agree with you. Its very fishy all this sudden interest in luxury tax evasion. Are they guilty?

If it was bought from a crooked licenced dealer then maybe theyre not. This is Thailand . If you've imported a car though back channels then you know whats going on and theyve been doing it for years. (i used to export cars from UK to Aust) Tax +uplift +sales tax in Thailand was about 600% all up in 1980's

Its not just cars. What about brand cosmetics,French perfumes and expensive wines?

Top shelf wines worth tens of thousands of baht per case are smuggled in from Australian wine agents via Singapore road freight.

Perfumes and cosmetics are smuggled in with TG and others of course.

Ever seen a poverty stricken flight attendant? Alot of them are p/t smugglers including QANTAS in the west.

[OzMick]

I have a funny feeling that the red plate on the Bentley may be worth nearly as much as the car, even if it is not so lucky at the moment.

[kimamey]

This headline should win a prize for its stupidity. They're hardly likely to target the poor are they?

[ratcatcher]

This headline should win a prize for its stupidity. They're hardly likely to target the poor are they?

DSI's new super-car list targets poor farmers and bargirls.

Perhaps that would be more in order?

[tomross46]

Ratcatcher, The farmers are not poor. They sold their rice to the government and now they can afford the Italian Bull. This is an example of the government taking care of the farmers.

[Songhua]

A Sergeant with a secondhand RX8. They're really after the big fish then.

[tomross46]

How come a lowly Sergeant (doesn't say Police or Army) afford to own a fancy sports car, even if it is said to be second hand. OK he may have private means, but it does seem a bit 'iffy'.

The Sergeant is a sports hero.

Worapoj to lead Thai boxers on Asian Games mission. Eight Thai fighters spearheaded by former Olympic silver medalist Worapoj Phetkhum .

[Sayonarax]

THAI AT HEART...... i agree with you. Its very fishy all this sudden interest in luxury tax evasion. Are they guilty?

If it was bought from a crooked licenced dealer then maybe theyre not. This is Thailand . If you've imported a car though back channels then you know whats going on and theyve been doing it for years. (i used to export cars from UK to Aust) Tax +uplift +sales tax in Thailand was about 600% all up in 1980's

Its not just cars. What about brand cosmetics,French perfumes and expensive wines?

Top shelf wines worth tens of thousands of baht per case are smuggled in from Australian wine agents via Singapore road freight.

Perfumes and cosmetics are smuggled in with TG and others of course.

Ever seen a poverty stricken flight attendant? Alot of them are p/t smugglers including QANTAS in the west.

Thanks for importing crap cars to my country.

[GeorgeO]

DSI's new super-car list targets rich

Was there ever a more obvious statement?

So I'm glad they've cleared it up for us that none of these cars have been found parked outside shanty huts in Isaan......

[Pikeybkk]

How come a lowly Sergeant (doesn't say Police or Army) afford to own a fancy sports car, even if it is said to be second hand. OK he may have private means, but it does seem a bit 'iffy'.

There are many many more like him in the police force. The Sarge i know has a BM and wears a pair of 50k designer glasses not bad for 17 k per month

funnily enough, i used to live in an aprtment in nonthaburi overlooking a police sargents house and once a week they would meet up in his back garden to distribute piles of cash, and i mean piles! they would all come in one by one and be given a share and sit around and drink whiskey, he had a new bmw

[soi41]

How come a lowly Sergeant (doesn't say Police or Army) afford to own a fancy sports car, even if it is said to be second hand. OK he may have private means, but it does seem a bit 'iffy'.

The Sergeant is a sports hero.

Worapoj to lead Thai boxers on Asian Games mission. Eight Thai fighters spearheaded by former Olympic silver medalist Worapoj Phetkhum .

Don't spoil another "hate the rich" thread with something as boring as facts !

[animatic]

One must wonder what percentage of these DSI targeted super car owners are high end Democratic Backers,

vs the PTP backers with trick cars...?

[ratcatcher]

THAI AT HEART...... i agree with you. Its very fishy all this sudden interest in luxury tax evasion. Are they guilty?

If it was bought from a crooked licenced dealer then maybe theyre not. This is Thailand . If you've imported a car though back channels then you know whats going on and theyve been doing it for years. (i used to export cars from UK to Aust) Tax +uplift +sales tax in Thailand was about 600% all up in 1980's

Its not just cars. What about brand cosmetics,French perfumes and expensive wines?

Top shelf wines worth tens of thousands of baht per case are smuggled in from Australian wine agents via Singapore road freight.

Perfumes and cosmetics are smuggled in with TG and others of course.

Ever seen a poverty stricken flight attendant? Alot of them are p/t smugglers including QANTAS in the west.

Thanks for importing crap cars to my country.

From your comment, I assume you are Thai.

What is your definition of a "crap" car?

These seem to be cars that many people can only dream about and a select few can actually afford.

[OzMick]

THAI AT HEART...... i agree with you. Its very fishy all this sudden interest in luxury tax evasion. Are they guilty?

If it was bought from a crooked licenced dealer then maybe theyre not. This is Thailand . If you've imported a car though back channels then you know whats going on and theyve been doing it for years. (i used to export cars from UK to Aust) Tax +uplift +sales tax in Thailand was about 600% all up in 1980's

Its not just cars. What about brand cosmetics,French perfumes and expensive wines?

Top shelf wines worth tens of thousands of baht per case are smuggled in from Australian wine agents via Singapore road freight.

Perfumes and cosmetics are smuggled in with TG and others of course.

Ever seen a poverty stricken flight attendant? Alot of them are p/t smugglers including QANTAS in the west.

Thanks for importing crap cars to my country.

From your comment, I assume you are Thai.

What is your definition of a "crap" car?

These seem to be cars that many people can only dream about and a select few can actually afford.

Ummm........no. I would assume he (sayonarax) is Aussie based on his comment re "I used to export cars from UK to Aust"

[Spoonman]

How come a lowly Sergeant (doesn't say Police or Army) afford to own a fancy sports car, even if it is said to be second hand. OK he may have private means, but it does seem a bit 'iffy'.

Cmon do you really think it's "iffy" for a sergeant to own a second hand car that cost 1.3 million, whats to say he has not got it on the drip paying it off in monthly installments.

13 million well than yes I would call that "iffy".