Phuket supercars dodge second DSI bullet

[webfact]

Phuket supercars dodge second DSI bullet
Phuket Gazette


Phuket again comes up clean, as the DSI completes its second roundup of suspected illegal supercars. Photo: The Nation

PHUKET: -- A second round of the Department of Special Investigation’s (DSI) probe into supercar owners suspected of tax evasion did not turn up any cars registered in Phuket.

The second batch of cars under investigation was composed of only about 60 vehicles.

However, only 548 (less than 10%) of the 5,834 registered luxury cars suspected of having been issued papers through a tax-evasion scheme have so far come under the scrutiny of DSI officers (story here).

“More than 200 of the car owners from both lots have not submitted their car documents to us for investigation. We will now have warrants issued requiring them to bring their cars and documents to us next week,” a DSI officer who declined to give his name told the Phuket Gazette.

The deadline for suspects to submit the necessary documentation for their cars to the DSI was June 23.

DSI chief Tharit Pengdit estimated that tax evading luxury car owners have probably cost Thailand 20 billion baht in lost revenue. The estimate was based on the assumption that more than 8,000 luxury vehicles in the country had been or were about to be registered illegally.

Phuket Land Transport Office chief Terayout Prasertphol confirmed to the Gazette in June that his office has only registered legal vehicles and that all taxes are fully paid on all vehicles registered here.

“I have received calls from people asking to register cars illegally, but I turn them down, so they go to other provinces,” Mr Terayout explained.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-supercars-dodge-second-DSI-bullet-21697.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-07-20

[DiNiro]

Land Transport Office chief Terayout Prasertphol:
“I have received calls from people asking to register cars illegally"

Interesting.

So he must have turned those people into the proper authorities I can assume?

[Valentine]

I wonder how legal the cars were in the super car showroom on Chao Fa West which disappeared abruptly when the story broke about the burnt out cars & the resulting flak. However, still have not seen any stories about charges being laid & people convicted (this really a pipe dream because the rich & famous do not get convicted in this country).

[steelepulse]

Of course they weren't registered in Phuket. They were registered in the provinces that took backhanders. Yes Valentine it's purely conincidental of course that those camaros and mid level benzs disappeared .

[GeorgeO]

“More than 200 of the car owners from both lots have not submitted their car documents to us for investigation”

Further evidence of the total contempt for the law amongst those in the higher echelons of Thai society.

[Naam]

“More than 200 of the car owners from both lots have not submitted their car documents to us for investigation”

Further evidence of the total contempt for the law amongst those in the higher echelons of Thai society.

the Phuket Gazette is writing nonsense. since when does a car owner have documents that import duties have been paid?

[pagallim]

“More than 200 of the car owners from both lots have not submitted their car documents to us for investigation”

Further evidence of the total contempt for the law amongst those in the higher echelons of Thai society.

the Phuket Gazette is writing nonsense. since when does a car owner have documents that import duties have been paid?

If bought from an import company (for example, TSL Autos on the Bypass Road), they should supply the appropriate importation documents that would be required for registration of the vehicle. Any purchaser of an imported vehicle should insist of being provided with copies of the import documentation.

[Naam]

“More than 200 of the car owners from both lots have not submitted their car documents to us for investigation”

Further evidence of the total contempt for the law amongst those in the higher echelons of Thai society.

the Phuket Gazette is writing nonsense. since when does a car owner have documents that import duties have been paid?

If bought from an import company (for example, TSL Autos on the Bypass Road), they should supply the appropriate importation documents that would be required for registration of the vehicle. Any purchaser of an imported vehicle should insist of being provided with copies of the import documentation.

you are right, but these documents remain in the file with the registering authority. the DSI should check with this authority instead of the car owners. i have a photocopy for an imported car but that is not considered proof. with a bit of rigging with a software like "photoshop" any document can be "manufactured" and experts can produce documents which look more authentic than a "real" one.

[pagallim]

“More than 200 of the car owners from both lots have not submitted their car documents to us for investigation”

Further evidence of the total contempt for the law amongst those in the higher echelons of Thai society.

the Phuket Gazette is writing nonsense. since when does a car owner have documents that import duties have been paid?

If bought from an import company (for example, TSL Autos on the Bypass Road), they should supply the appropriate importation documents that would be required for registration of the vehicle. Any purchaser of an imported vehicle should insist of being provided with copies of the import documentation.

you are right, but these documents remain in the file with the registering authority. the DSI should check with this authority instead of the car owners. i have a photocopy for an imported car but that is not considered proof. with a bit of rigging with a software like "photoshop" any document can be "manufactured" and experts can produce documents which look more authentic than a "real" one.

And therein lies the real problem with this importation investigation that's unlikely to be revealed, the corruption within the various registering authorities.

[lee b]

Well it must be very difficult to spot them