Chalerm's car inspected; DSI set to charge two suspects over super car scam

[webfact]

DSI set to charge two suspects over super car scam
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Two men suspected of involvement in the trade of high-end cars that were not properly taxed are expected to surrender to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) today.

Meanwhile, Provincial Police Region 3 has distributed an arrest warrant for a key witness to implicate a gang that brought the luxury cars into Thailand without paying correct taxes.

DSI chief Tarit Pengdit reported yesterday that Nareunart Kuansawat and Thanan Kuansawat would present themselves to case investigators at 10am today, after evidence and witnesses allegedly linked these two men to the luxury-car trade and tax evasion.

Tarit said the DSI would initially charge them with smuggling the cars into the country and dodging taxes or proper customs procedures, presenting faulty papers to avoid tax, and hiding and distributing the cars in question.

Tarit said Nareunart was also expected to present to the DSI the ownership document for a Bentley that was registered in Si Sa Ket.

Tarit said the DSI would talk with seven related agencies about guidelines for owners to keep the cars being investigated for tax evasion until the cases were proved and the vehicles seized. He said they would consider allowing owners to buy the cars back at an appropriate price.

CHALERM'S CAR INSPECTED

Tarit said he was looking into the matter of Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobumrung's Rolls-Royce. Its value had reportedly been shown at only US$70,000 (Bt2.15 million).

Tarit said he was looking into the matter and urged people not to jump to conclusions.

He said the grey market had both legal and illegal sections and same-model cars bought from different dealers could vary in price, as it was a free market.

He said it was the Customs Department's job to investigate whether price declarations were false or not.

Reporting progress in the police probe of six luxury cars burned in Nakhon Ratchasima's Pak Chong district, Provincial Police Region 3 investigator Pol Colonel Panu Buranasiri yesterday said he had received a warrant from the DSI for Nathee Rewthong, 31.

Nathee was wanted for smuggling cars into the country without paying taxes or proper customs procedures, presenting faulty papers to avoid tax, and hiding and distributing the improperly taxed cars.

Police investigations had allegedly found Nathee helped a gang by providing papers for the luxury cars' registration and delivering the vehicles and papers to state officials he had contacted, so the cars could be made legal without paying the full taxes, Paru said. He has urged Nathee, who is an amputee missing his left arm and right thumb, to surrender for his own safety.

Panu said the probe by Bua Yai district police of eight high-end cars had not been submitted to Provincial Police Region 3 yet despite five of the cars having already been returned to their owners. The regional police will order the retrieval of the five cars for detailed forensic examination, which should take two weeks.

-- The Nation 2013-06-20

[Bellweather]

The DSI are looking into the matter of Chalerm's car and we are urged not to jump to conclusions. TOO LATE as we have already and have concluded nothing will be found to be wrong and even if there was nothing would be found to be wrong.

[bigbamboo]

I guess Chalerm had better hold fire on that 50 million baht law suit then.

[rkidlad]

Chalerm will be legitimate of course - but what will really hurt him is that the DSI had the audacity to investigate him. That will hurt Chalerm's ego for sure.

[GentlemanJim]

Did Tarit just say the grey market is legal and illegal in places?

Edited June 20, 2013 by GentlemanJim

[Thai at Heart]

I swear I read that add Chalerm gets his ear inspected.

[Siripon]

The person behind the luxury car scam is so far untouchable due to their position and a lack of compelling evidence. But if that person aspires to be PM in the near future they should be careful.

[apetley]

If Chalerms Rolls is valued at only 2.15 million I'll give him double that to give him a nice profit.

Or maybe the low value means it's an old Saluna with a rather nice bodykit.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[smedly]

Nareunart - Bently - Charlerm in the same article seems enough for me to make my own conclusions

now waiting for charlerm to make a statement

[Thai at Heart]

Maybe he bought the Chinese version.

Bontley. Bentleg,

[A Member]

Chalerm will be legitimate of course - but what will really hurt him is that the DSI had the audacity to investigate him. That will hurt Chalerm's ego for sure.

His legitimate status as proved by the DSI will be a nice piece of evidence if he pursues a defamation case. All worth a bob or two to everyone involved, except the defendant of course.

[Tatsujin]

Tarit said he was looking into the matter of Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobumrung's Rolls-Royce. Its value had reportedly been shown at only US$70,000 (Bt2.15 million).

He said it was the Customs Department's job to investigate whether price declarations were false or not.

OK, anyone know where I can pick up a car now at less than 1/15th of it's real value? I'm in the market . . .

[Thai at Heart]

Is this the dynamic duo they talked about yesterday?

[MaxLee]

So we're the two suspects just cherry picked? Can Chalerm go now... Thank you, have a nice day..,

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

He has urged Nathee, who is an amputee missing his left arm and right thumb, to surrender for his own safety.

That seems like an odd combination.... Ex Army perhaps???

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

If Chalerms Rolls is valued at only 2.15 million I'll give him double that to give him a nice profit.

Or maybe the low value means it's an old Saluna with a rather nice bodykit.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Ahh...but remember... it's not CHALERM's Rolls...

It belongs to the Singaporean business partner of Chalerm's son and is being held in mortgage for a debt.... owed by the partner's fifth great aunt on his mother's side, who really is a Hong Kong citizen, who emigrated to the U.S., and now runs a Thai restaurant in New York.....etc etc etc..

Edited June 20, 2013 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Katipo]

I must say that the gentleman in the above photo certainly looks like a ring-leader of multimillion baht luxury car import syndicate. Once again the Boys in tight brown are getting to the bottom of things.

[kartman]

He has urged Nathee, who is an amputee missing his left arm and right thumb, to surrender for his own safety.

That seems like an odd combination.... Ex Army perhaps???

Or didn't deliver in previous scams?.

[bubba]

Interesting quote from Thaksin from back in 2003:

"Democracy is a vehicle," Thaksin said. "We can't drive a Rolls-Royce to a rural village and solve people's problems. A pickup truck or good off-road car will do. We just need to think carefully and make the right choices."

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/4293-thaksin-democracy-is-not-my-goal/

[tomross46]

Did DPM Chalerm. declare his vehicles as assets on this yearly declaration of wealth? If not, is that against the law?

[Thai at Heart]

He has urged Nathee, who is an amputee missing his left arm and right thumb, to surrender for his own safety.

That seems like an odd combination.... Ex Army perhaps???

Or didn't deliver in previous scams?.

it's their way of insinuating he is a "bad" man.

All he needs next is a thin black moustache, and to enter rooms to bad background music, and he will really be a big mafia man.

[gemini81]

No need to inspect; he cheated as the price is undervalued for even the oldest and most poorly maintained rolls royces. Its worth far more than that.

Charge the bastard the money due and have some balls.

[technologybytes]

Right now on thaicar.com there is a Rolls Royce for sale at 2.1 million baht. Rolls are like any other car in that the value can vary dramatically depending on condition, age and mechanical integrity. I don't know anything about the Rolls in question, but the statement that the value can vary is correct, and you cannot assume that just because it's a Rolls that it's therefore incorrectly valued.

[EvilDrSomkid]

Tarit said the DSI would talk with seven related agencies about guidelines for owners to keep the cars being investigated for tax evasion until the cases were proved and the vehicles seized. He said they would consider allowing owners to buy the cars back at an appropriate price.

[lucjoker]

they will punnish the gang leaders: 16 y old Bimbo,who not has a decent t-shirt and worn out flip flops and never had more than 100 bht in his pocket and

the mastermind Boo Boo 17 year, who is a beggar under Sukhumvit bridge sinc he was 2 y .

Yep ,they did it ,the sole culpits.....

Hit them hard !

Justice !

[soi41]

Interesting quote from Thaksin from back in 2003:

"Democracy is a vehicle," Thaksin said. "We can't drive a Rolls-Royce to a rural village and solve people's problems. A pickup truck or good off-road car will do. We just need to think carefully and make the right choices."

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/4293-thaksin-democracy-is-not-my-goal/

That is why, they need to borrow 2+trillion baht to improve the infrastructure, so the politicians and ricemillers can drive their luxury cars to the rural villages and "solve peoples problems"

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

He has urged Nathee, who is an amputee missing his left arm and right thumb, to surrender for his own safety.

That seems like an odd combination.... Ex Army perhaps???

Or didn't deliver in previous scams?.

it's their way of insinuating he is a "bad" man.

All he needs next is a thin black moustache, and to enter rooms to bad background music, and he will really be a big mafia man.

Guess this means the BIB won't be able to apply their thumb screws to the guy, if and when they catch him... Lucky dude!

Well, I guess only one thumb screw... not two...

Edited June 20, 2013 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Jitar]

If Chalerms Rolls is valued at only 2.15 million I'll give him double that to give him a nice profit.

Or maybe the low value means it's an old Saluna with a rather nice bodykit.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Interesting quote from Thaksin from back in 2003:

"Democracy is a vehicle," Thaksin said. "We can't drive a Rolls-Royce to a rural village and solve people's problems. A pickup truck or good off-road car will do. We just need to think carefully and make the right choices."

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/4293-thaksin-democracy-is-not-my-goal/

Wonder if his sister was paying attention at the time.

[Neilly]

Tarit said he was looking into the matter and urged people not to jump to conclusions.

[jbrain]

Tarit said he was looking into the matter of Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobumrung's Rolls-Royce. Its value had reportedly been shown at only US$70,000 (Bt2.15 million).

Tarit said he was looking into the matter and urged people not to jump to conclusions.

Can I have two please ?