Bangkok: "Bentley" up for DSI Inspection

[webfact]

"Bentley" up for DSI Inspection
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- A Bentley confiscated at a Bangkok checkpoint last week has been traced to a suspicious car importer, according to an informed source.

The source yesterday identified the importer as Phanwasin Wilaikaew, 32.

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has found that Phanwasin owns 76 reassembled cars including 24 Mercedes Benzes and 13 BMWs. Lately, there have been widespread speculations that many luxury cars in the country were falsely registered as "reassembled" to avoid high tax rate.

The tax-evading vehicles are believed to have cost the country more than Bt20million.

Therefore, relevant authorities are now watching out for suspicious vehicles and importers.

Available records show Phanwasin have already sold the Bentley, which was confiscated in Bangkok at 1.30am on June 19, to Pisit Chartpanich and the registered price was just at a little over Bt3million.

The car registration expired since last August.

Pisit was not driving the vehicle at the time of the confiscation. A graduate student, Pisalamai Suangsurattanakul, drove it without any license plate. The driver called Pisit when he was intercepted at the checkpoint.

The Bangkok Yai Police Station has confiscated the vehicle and submitted it to DSI for inspection.

-- The Nation 2013-06-26

[geriatrickid]

Pish posh. 3 million baht is chump change for Bangkok's wealthy.

[NongKhaiKid]

This has become a common or garden headline recently. Now had it read " a PINK Bentley... " it would have been more interesting.

[Songhua]

Hey, it's only illegal, why don't we drag our clipboard, zippers and buckles all over the duco!

[sirchai]

Therefore, relevant authorities are now watching out for suspicious vehicles and importers to "Wa"i them and get a part of the cake.-

Edited June 26, 2013 by sirchai

[paz]

"Without any license plates" but it has a front plate in the video.Seems like the graduate student may have tried a little evasive action at the checkpoint, as the battered front fender suggests. Or something did go wrong with the "reassembly" ?

I can only feel sad for the wast of time and money to conduct this dog an pony show of an "scientific investigation" where there are probably hundred of violent crimes everyday where nothing is done because nobody cares and it does not have to make the news.

Anyway, that is what happens when insane luxury taxes are imposed in a country like this. State would make more money, and less would go to corruption if the rates were kept within reason.

Edited June 26, 2013 by paz

[clockman]

Seems like the graduate student may have tried a little evasive action at the checkpoint, as the battered front fender suggests. Or something did go wrong with the "reassembly" ?.

Anyway, that is what happens when insane luxury taxes are imposed in a country like this. State would make more money, and less would go to corruption if the rates were kept within reason.

That would mean using logic! unheard of word in Thailand!

[ratcatcher]

"The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has found that Phanwasin owns 76 reassembled cars including 24 Mercedes Benzes and 13 BMWs. Lately, there have been widespread speculations that many luxury cars in the country were falsely registered as "reassembled" to avoid high tax rate."

"The tax-evading vehicles are believed to have cost the country more than Bt20million."

Is it just me or does B20 million sound a bit low for the tax loss on these 76 cars?

"Pisit was not driving the vehicle at the time of the confiscation. A graduate student, Pisalamai Suangsurattanakul, drove it without any license plate. The driver called Pisit when he was intercepted at the checkpoint."

Driving without a license plate in a Bentley? Someone's taking the Pis.

[kartman]

"Without any license plates" but it has a front plate in the video.Seems like the graduate student may have tried a little evasive action at the checkpoint, as the battered front fender suggests. Or something did go wrong with the "reassembly" ?

I can only feel sad for the wast of time and money to conduct this dog an pony show of an "scientific investigation" where there are probably hundred of violent crimes everyday where nothing is done because nobody cares and it does not have to make the news.

Anyway, that is what happens when insane luxury taxes are imposed in a country like this. State would make more money, and less would go to corruption if the rates were kept within reason.

Thats the video of the car trailer fire vehicles nothing to do with this story nor is the Merc in the head picture.

Edited June 26, 2013 by kartman

[Thai at Heart]

Who registered it for 3mn baht?

[monkey4u]

Can anyone tell me where I can buy a late model Bentley for 3 mil, so I can export to Aus.

I can make a bucket of cash on that deal

Edited June 27, 2013 by metisdead
Bold font removed.

[soi41]

For some time this has been in the news every day. How come, that the Customs Department is never mentioned.

Without the the "help" of customs, all those illegal cars would not have been in the country in the first place. Or is this to close to home for comfort for the DSI??

[junglechef]

Different car in pic and video. Maybe he bought only the front grill for 3 mil?

[Thai at Heart]

Would the "I thought it was a copy" defence work?

I mean, half of Bangkok is covered with counterfeit goods, but these don't seem to be raising such a hoo haa. Maybe the DSI can't find where they are sold?

[cnx355]

"Without any license plates" but it has a front plate in the video.Seems like the graduate student may have tried a little evasive action at the checkpoint, as the battered front fender suggests. Or something did go wrong with the "reassembly" ?

I can only feel sad for the wast of time and money to conduct this dog an pony show of an "scientific investigation" where there are probably hundred of violent crimes everyday where nothing is done because nobody cares and it does not have to make the news.

Anyway, that is what happens when insane luxury taxes are imposed in a country like this. State would make more money, and less would go to corruption if the rates were kept within reason.

PAZ, The car in the video is a 2 doors dark interior ( I think, this one seized after the fire of the transporter ) The one in the photo is a 4 doors and beige interior.

[steffi]

In contrast how much did the country lose in unpaid taxes by The Shinawatras?

[bentleyboy]

"Without any license plates" but it has a front plate in the video.Seems like the graduate student may have tried a little evasive action at the checkpoint, as the battered front fender suggests. Or something did go wrong with the "reassembly" ?

I can only feel sad for the wast of time and money to conduct this dog an pony show of an "scientific investigation" where there are probably hundred of violent crimes everyday where nothing is done because nobody cares and it does not have to make the news.

Anyway, that is what happens when insane luxury taxes are imposed in a country like this. State would make more money, and less would go to corruption if the rates were kept within reason.

PAZ, The car in the video is a 2 doors dark interior ( I think, this one seized after the fire of the transporter ) The one in the photo is a 4 doors and beige interior.

The one in the photo is not even a Bentley!

[bigbamboo]

"Without any license plates" but it has a front plate in the video.Seems like the graduate student may have tried a little evasive action at the checkpoint, as the battered front fender suggests. Or something did go wrong with the "reassembly" ?

I can only feel sad for the wast of time and money to conduct this dog an pony show of an "scientific investigation" where there are probably hundred of violent crimes everyday where nothing is done because nobody cares and it does not have to make the news.

Anyway, that is what happens when insane luxury taxes are imposed in a country like this. State would make more money, and less would go to corruption if the rates were kept within reason.

PAZ, The car in the video is a 2 doors dark interior ( I think, this one seized after the fire of the transporter ) The one in the photo is a 4 doors and beige interior.

The one in the photo is not even a Bentley!

It IS a DSI investigation and if they say it's a Bentley, it's a Bentley.

Even if it isn't.

Edited June 26, 2013 by bigbamboo

[bentleyboy]

"Without any license plates" but it has a front plate in the video.Seems like the graduate student may have tried a little evasive action at the checkpoint, as the battered front fender suggests. Or something did go wrong with the "reassembly" ?

I can only feel sad for the wast of time and money to conduct this dog an pony show of an "scientific investigation" where there are probably hundred of violent crimes everyday where nothing is done because nobody cares and it does not have to make the news.

Anyway, that is what happens when insane luxury taxes are imposed in a country like this. State would make more money, and less would go to corruption if the rates were kept within reason.

PAZ, The car in the video is a 2 doors dark interior ( I think, this one seized after the fire of the transporter ) The one in the photo is a 4 doors and beige interior.

The one in the photo is not even a Bentley!

It IS a DSI investigation and if they say it's a Bentley, it's a Bentley.

Even if it isn't.

Sorry my mistake, Bentley it is then, but the investigation is off to a bad start!

[belg]

thailand :hub of reassembling luxury cars

[CHANGOVER]

Has Chalerm joined this TV thread under an obvious pseudonym? :-)

bentleyboy

[Fantastic5]

Pish posh. 3 million baht is chump change for Bangkok's wealthy.

That's the registerd price that tax is dew on, it is not what the car cost the owner, I would say it cos the owner around ฿9m.

[SOTIRIOS]

...tens of thousands of vehicles per year........what a charade......

[SOTIRIOS]

...tens of thousands of vehicles per year........what a charade......

[pb1936]

What is a "graduate student".............surely the person is either a graduate or a student.

[Anon999]

Pish posh. 3 million baht is chump change for Bangkok's wealthy.

I wonder it it was stolen to order at that price?

[Spalpeen]

This luxury cars thing is an interesting story. The wealthy elite in Thailand are relatively few in number, and by targeting luxury cars the police are in effect declaring war on that group. It also exposes widespread corruption in the customs and registration departments. It wouldn't have been possible to import 1,000's of vehicles without their cooperation.

[Anon999]

That looks like a Merc.

[lee b]

i'm on the look out for a 1976 pad mini !!

[pb1936]

That looks like a Merc.

Yes, the car in the first photo is a Merc.