NACC faults ex-revenue chief Sathit and another official of malfeasance over 3 bln baht tax fraud

[webfact]

NACC faults ex-revenue chief Sathit and another official of malfeasance over 3 billion baht tax fraud



BANGKOK: -- Former Revenue Department director-general Sathit Rangkhasiri and a senior revenue official have been faulted by the National Anti-Corruption Commission of malfeasance in office for helping a group of ghost companies reclaiming over three billion baht in value-added tax from the state.

Mr Sathit and Mr Supakit Riyakarn, former senior revenue official of Bangkok’s Zone 22, were also faulted of gross negligence of duty for failing to perform their duties as mandated by the law, regulations and cabinet resolutions.

NACC spokesman Vicha Mahakhun disclosed on Tuesday that NACC’s findings showed that Mr Supakit had deliberately broken the Revenue Department’s rules by stopping a probe into the companies to find out whether they were actually operational or just ghost companies but returned VAT to the companies causing damage to the state estimated at 3,146 million baht.

As for Mr Sathit, Mr Vicha said the former revenue chief was fully aware that the 25 companies did not actually export anything out of the country and incredible and knew about the order to return VAT to these companies but, instead, suspended a probe into the companies in question.

The findings exposed that the two former revenue officials received 179 million baht from the companies and used them to buy gold bullion for safe keeping.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/nacc-faults-ex-revenue-chief-sathit-and-another-official-of-malfeasance-over-3-billion-baht-tax-fraud


-- Thai PBS 2015-10-28

[selftaopath]

And a consequences will be????

Tsk tsk tsk.... don't do that again. Can we - the govt. - make/send more connected individuals to inactive posts?:-) Oh how about community service.... that will teach all the bent officials.

But NEVER be concerned a/b going to jail in Lack of Sanctions, that' only for the poor.

[trogers]

Who promoted him to that post?

[ClutchClark]

Great Job NACC.

[cloudhopper]

Faulted? How about being criminally prosecuted....

[Tatsujin]

As can be seen, no matter who is in charge, the same things continue to go on and on and on with zero (or very little) consequences.

[ClutchClark]

As can be seen, no matter who is in charge, the same things continue to go on and on and on with zero (or very little) consequences.

Really? I see no timeline here that indicates when the criminal offenses occured so how do you know when it took place?

Furthermore, there has been an investigation, the responsible parties have been publicly identified, they have been removed from their posts and now the justice system wheels are starting to turn ( albeit most likely slowly).

So basically your post is only filled with biased and unsubstantiated conclusions.

Edited October 28, 2015 by ClutchClark

[robblok]

As can be seen, no matter who is in charge, the same things continue to go on and on and on with zero (or very little) consequences.

Your right but is it me or do i see a 10 fold or more of corruption cases going to the courts. i can't say that I saw much of that during the PTP period. Just an observation though it is as if investigations now are not being stonewalled and people finally get tried and investigated. Mind you not everyone gets investigated but the amount of cases I see now and news articles about it is far higher.

One explanation is that the news-media is more into it the other is that PTP and their minions made sure corruption was not tried.

[ezzra]

" deliberately broken the Revenue Department’s rules by stopping a probe into the companies to find out whether they were actually operational or just ghost companies but returned VAT to the companies causing damage to the state estimated at 3,146 million baht."

For allegedly handsome rewards for turning a blind eye no doubt.... there is no respite from crocked people

in this country, and the PM has many more 'crackdowns' to preform to rid the country of those rotten apples...

[sharecropper]

Until the court system is urgently upgraded, fraud cases fast-tracked, and the bail and appeal process is 'regularised', these cases will never be properly dealt with, I fear.

Look at Vietnam - even they're cracking down on it, but in sane time-frames and handing down some serious sentences (if link is removed, Google Vietnam Japan bribery)

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/31230/vietnam-jails-6-railway-officials-for-52-years-in-japanesebribery-scandal

[Eric Loh]

As can be seen, no matter who is in charge, the same things continue to go on and on and on with zero (or very little) consequences.

Your right but is it me or do i see a 10 fold or more of corruption cases going to the courts. i can't say that I saw much of that during the PTP period. Just an observation though it is as if investigations now are not being stonewalled and people finally get tried and investigated. Mind you not everyone gets investigated but the amount of cases I see now and news articles about it is far higher.

One explanation is that the news-media is more into it the other is that PTP and their minions made sure corruption was not tried.

Just my observation that this VAT fraud was actually investigated initially by the previous government back in 2013. Then Ministry PS Areepong probe concluded that several officials were involved in the fraudulent VAT refund scam. Then the NACC did not take up the case. Not sure why.

[Tatsujin]

As can be seen, no matter who is in charge, the same things continue to go on and on and on with zero (or very little) consequences.

Really? I see no timeline here that indicates when the criminal offenses occured so how do you know when it took place?

Furthermore, there has been an investigation, the responsible parties have been publicly identified, they have been removed from their posts and now the justice system wheels are starting to turn ( albeit most likely slowly).

So basically your post is only filled with biased and unsubstantiated conclusions.

2012-2013 was the timeline for this particular case, and it's only being pushed through now that a change in Govt has occurred.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Revenue-Department-takes-issue-with-Finance-over-V-30213338.html

And Sathit himself claimed at the time that nothing we amiss.

"While Finance permanent secretary Areepong Bhoocha-oom said on Thursday that initial findings by the ministry's inspector-general had concluded that 18 senior officials might have been involved in a Bt4.3-billion value-added-tax refund scam, Revenue director-general Sathit Rangkhasiri rebutted that the department had found no irregularities in the officials' work process."

[Tatsujin]

As can be seen, no matter who is in charge, the same things continue to go on and on and on with zero (or very little) consequences.

Your right but is it me or do i see a 10 fold or more of corruption cases going to the courts. i can't say that I saw much of that during the PTP period. Just an observation though it is as if investigations now are not being stonewalled and people finally get tried and investigated. Mind you not everyone gets investigated but the amount of cases I see now and news articles about it is far higher.

One explanation is that the news-media is more into it the other is that PTP and their minions made sure corruption was not tried.

I think that it's partly the fact that they actually are doing more in terms of trying to bring (some) corrupt people to justice, and partly the fact that they are making sure it's all well publicized so the country can see what a great job they are doing.

[Tatsujin]

As can be seen, no matter who is in charge, the same things continue to go on and on and on with zero (or very little) consequences.

Your right but is it me or do i see a 10 fold or more of corruption cases going to the courts. i can't say that I saw much of that during the PTP period. Just an observation though it is as if investigations now are not being stonewalled and people finally get tried and investigated. Mind you not everyone gets investigated but the amount of cases I see now and news articles about it is far higher.

One explanation is that the news-media is more into it the other is that PTP and their minions made sure corruption was not tried.

Just my observation that this VAT fraud was actually investigated initially by the previous government back in 2013. Then Ministry PS Areepong probe concluded that several officials were involved in the fraudulent VAT refund scam. Then the NACC did not take up the case. Not sure why.

Interesting to note also that back in 2011, he was the one that let Thaksin's children off the hook for the tax due on the sale of ShinCorp in 2006.

[robblok]

As can be seen, no matter who is in charge, the same things continue to go on and on and on with zero (or very little) consequences.

Your right but is it me or do i see a 10 fold or more of corruption cases going to the courts. i can't say that I saw much of that during the PTP period. Just an observation though it is as if investigations now are not being stonewalled and people finally get tried and investigated. Mind you not everyone gets investigated but the amount of cases I see now and news articles about it is far higher.

One explanation is that the news-media is more into it the other is that PTP and their minions made sure corruption was not tried.

Just my observation that this VAT fraud was actually investigated initially by the previous government back in 2013. Then Ministry PS Areepong probe concluded that several officials were involved in the fraudulent VAT refund scam. Then the NACC did not take up the case. Not sure why.

They had their budget slashed by 50% by YL and her minions so they could not take up all cases. They simply were hamstrung by this (as planned by YL and her minions)

[robblok]

As can be seen, no matter who is in charge, the same things continue to go on and on and on with zero (or very little) consequences.

Your right but is it me or do i see a 10 fold or more of corruption cases going to the courts. i can't say that I saw much of that during the PTP period. Just an observation though it is as if investigations now are not being stonewalled and people finally get tried and investigated. Mind you not everyone gets investigated but the amount of cases I see now and news articles about it is far higher.

One explanation is that the news-media is more into it the other is that PTP and their minions made sure corruption was not tried.

I think that it's partly the fact that they actually are doing more in terms of trying to bring (some) corrupt people to justice, and partly the fact that they are making sure it's all well publicized so the country can see what a great job they are doing.

I can agree with that observation could be a combination of both. Feels at least that far more is done against corruption. All YL did was cutting the budget of the NACC with 50% (making them ineffective in combating corruption) and an amnesty that would pardon 24.000 corruption cases.

So on the anti corruption front this government is better as the previous one for sure, but still far from perfect.

Edited October 28, 2015 by robblok

[worgeordie]

Just plod along until the statuette of limitations kicks in ,give plenty

time for the wrong doers to flee the country with their ill gotten gains.

thats what happens far too often.now they are going to be tougher

on tax collections, first it might be better to stop the waste ,corruption,

that goes on with the taxes already collected.

regards worgeordie

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

and which companies benefited from this criminal act? Who are the owners of these companies?

[robblok]

and which companies benefited from this criminal act? Who are the owners of these companies?

Yes this should go much further not only him but also the companies that benefited.

[zaphod reborn]

The Organic Act on Counter-Corruption B.E. 2542 (1999) was amended effective July 12, 2015 which clarified that bribery of public officials was punishable by death. Specifically, Article 13 was amended so that "taking bribes in return for malfeasance" could be punished by death. The penalty for offering the bribe is a fine, twice the value of the bribe, to the company's involved agent.

Time to put the penalties in force. After trial, death to the two RD officials, and a fine of 358 million baht, plus return of the 3.146 million VAT refund for the involved company, it's directors and agents involved in the bribe.

[clockman]

Just assume all officials in Thailand. Are corrupt. No change in five decades!

[Prbkk]

The same guy who is a director of Singha Real Estate?

[Tatsujin]

As can be seen, no matter who is in charge, the same things continue to go on and on and on with zero (or very little) consequences.

Your right but is it me or do i see a 10 fold or more of corruption cases going to the courts. i can't say that I saw much of that during the PTP period. Just an observation though it is as if investigations now are not being stonewalled and people finally get tried and investigated. Mind you not everyone gets investigated but the amount of cases I see now and news articles about it is far higher.

One explanation is that the news-media is more into it the other is that PTP and their minions made sure corruption was not tried.

I think that it's partly the fact that they actually are doing more in terms of trying to bring (some) corrupt people to justice, and partly the fact that they are making sure it's all well publicized so the country can see what a great job they are doing.

I can agree with that observation could be a combination of both. Feels at least that far more is done against corruption. All YL did was cutting the budget of the NACC with 50% (making them ineffective in combating corruption) and an amnesty that would pardon 24.000 corruption cases.

So on the anti corruption front this government is better as the previous one for sure, but still far from perfect.

Yes, they are far better on the corruption front than any other previous "Govt" ... but with one BIG proviso ... nearly all (all?) of those charged are in some way, shape or form known to, affiliated with, has worked for, are friends with or done business with Thaksin.

[waldroj]

They’ve been faulted with this serve, but it’s the next volley that will really make it game, set, and match for Sathit.

A promising career cut short through greed. He was the youngest director general in Thailand when he was appointed to head the Revenue Department in his early forties.

The headline for this article should really have read Gold plummets 70% in four months!

In this article Thai PBS is reporting that NACC’s findings exposed that the two former revenue officials received 179 million baht from the companies and used them to buy gold bullion for safe keeping. Yet, back in June Thai PBS reported the NACC had alleged Sathit owns 600 million baht worth of gold kept in safe deposits abroad that the panel has sought to impound. http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ex-revenue-chief-denies-he-is-under-probe-over-vat-refund-scam

[Thai at Heart]

The same guy who is a director of Singha Real Estate?

If so, why the hell is the bloke responsible for corruption cases allowed to sit in two positions which are blatantly in conflict?

[halloween]

Yes, they are far better on the corruption front than any other previous "Govt" ... but with one BIG proviso ... nearly all (all?) of those charged are in some way, shape or form known to, affiliated with, has worked for, are friends with or done business with Thaksin.

It's called profiling. it works.

[Truth4All]

and which companies benefited from this criminal act? Who are the owners of these companies?

WHAT Companies?????????

[Srikcir]

As can be seen, no matter who is in charge, the same things continue to go on and on and on with zero (or very little) consequences.

Your right but is it me or do i see a 10 fold or more of corruption cases going to the courts. i can't say that I saw much of that during the PTP period. Just an observation though it is as if investigations now are not being stonewalled and people finally get tried and investigated. Mind you not everyone gets investigated but the amount of cases I see now and news articles about it is far higher.

One explanation is that the news-media is more into it the other is that PTP and their minions made sure corruption was not tried.

It is still the same NACC however that is NOW bringing more charges to bear. It has investigative powers so being stonewalled is not an excuse during the PTP administration.

It does seem that lacking hard statistical data that the NACC seems more intent on investigating former PTP officials than Democrat officials. And of course not investigating any military except when referred to by the military command.