DSI says all steps in importing, registering of controversial vintage car are wrong

[webfact]

DSI says all steps in importing, registering of controversial vintage car are wrong



BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) says the Mercedes Benz vintage car owned by the supreme patriarch nominee is illegal and cannot be registered because all procedures leading to official registration were wrong and violated several laws.

At the press conference to declare the DSI’s investigation of the controversial limited edition vintage car, Mercedes-Benz Model 300 B carrying license plate number “ขม 0099” to the public to dispel public suspicion and criticism of indiscriminate investigation, DSI director Pol Col Phaisit Wongmuang said all steps that the classic car was imported, declared, assembled, registered were all wrong in order to avoid the high import duty, and excise tax.

The first owner as shown on the registration handbook is Somdet Phra Mangkhlajarn, abbot of Wat Pak Nam temple, the supreme patriarch nominee, and no one else, he said.

He said registration of this limited edition car with the Land Transport Department in August 2011 was also found to use forged signature of a person, use a name of company which did not exist in order to avoid taxes.

He said the car was imported in parts with the body and chassis shipped from the United States on 17 September and engine on 19 September 2010.

Other parts were declared to be bought from a local company in the country which did not exist as thorough check of its commercial registration had shown no such company was ever registered.

He said that as the import of this car involved many people, the DSI would treat the case as a special case because it is a sensitive case that might have impact on the peace and order of the country.

He added the DSI would look into more suspects in the conspiracy so legal action could be taken against them.

Earlier Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said he will not forward the supreme patriarch nominee to the King for approval as long as conflicts over the appointment are not settled.

Gen Prayut said he did not want to disturb the King who is still sick.

Somdet Phra Mangkhlajarn or widely known as Somdet Chuang was earlier named nominee to the supreme patriarch top Buddhism position by the Sangha Council of Thailand. He is currently acting in the position of supreme patriarch.

His nomination drew outcry from many people with reason that as long as all allegations against him are not cleared, he is not deserved the top position.

He also was known to have close connection with the abbot of Dhammakaya temple, Phra Dhammachayo, who is facing defrocking call by some former assemblymen and the activist monk Phra Buddha-issara, over fishy land ownership and embezzlement of funds of Credit Union Klongchan.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/151463


-- Thai PBS 2016-02-18

[chainarong]

This all maybe well , but , but what about those luxury imported car parts racket that the infamous DSI Tarit was going to look into , or are we getting to close to home for any action to be taken.......................................

[EyesWideOpen]

This all maybe well , but , but what about those luxury imported car parts racket that the infamous DSI Tarit was going to look into , or are we getting to close to home for any action to be taken.......................................

Haha yes as that investigation was about to swallow up Chalerm,

the whole thing did the gentle Thai fade away... :-)

[Pimay1]

Clearly laws were broken. Let's see if the monk gets away with it. I think I know the answer already.

[worgeordie]

Shocked and surprised

regards Worgeordie

[15Peter20]

Is there no branch of criminality these monks won't get involved in?

[NongKhaiKid]

Clearly laws were broken. Let's see if the monk gets away with it. I think I know the answer already.

The official line is likely to be that this is so complicated it will take time to investigate.

Time that is as in time for it to be forgotten about.

[PaullyW]

Is there no branch of criminality these monks won't get involved in?

Of course. Never heard of a a Thai monk illegally playing bridge.

[smutcakes]

Is this a yellow or red monk? If red i expect he wil be squeezed until he steps aside for a friendlier supreme monk. (ie a yellow one) If he steps aside, charges will be stalled.

[Searat7]

Seems like whenever "influential people" are involved their names are not disclosed

[Emster23]

Say a dozen "Hail Mary's" and be done with it....

[FloridaExport]

I wonder how much that license plate cost.

[gandalf12]

Some monk who wants these cars. A monks life is supposed to be without material goods and as the nominee for the top post I would say he doesnt really qualify for the position

[springheeled jack]

well I never monk e business in the los vintage cars land grabbing where will it end? there seems to be a lot of dodgy business being done by the budhist heirachy .

[Roomuck]

Mai bpen rai

[tomacht8]

There are "monks" who happily flying in private Learjets and helicopters, love Gucci Bags,
like women's shoes and smartphones, are involved in land transactions with millions of baht,
are active in the stock market, and Billions of Baht going back and forth into countless bank accounts
without any tax or state control.
But a "monk" who love vintage cars and bypasses the tax laws, is something new.

I spare myself. about this "Buddhist monks" my comment.

[NCC1701A]

I'm shaving my head, getting some of those KungFu lookin' robes and getting a Lamborghini Aventador.

Edited February 18, 2016 by NCC1701A

[stickylies]

guys in robes. same desires as guys in pants. next please.

[TheCruncher]

Is this a yellow or red monk? If red i expect he wil be squeezed until he steps aside for a friendlier supreme monk. (ie a yellow one) If he steps aside, charges will be stalled.

Last time I saw a picture of him I think he was wearing orange.

[Acharn]

Is there no branch of criminality these monks won't get involved in?

I guess you don't know that most monks are sincere believers who leave their homes to live the holy life. Unfortunately, the Sangkha has been a government organization for hundreds of years, and has always attracted corrupt people too. One of the weaknesses of Buddhism is the decision made after the Buddha's death to accept state sponsorship, going back to the Emperor Asoka and the Kings of Tibet. In China, Korea, and Japan, as well. More interesting to me is how corrupt people in high places form networks to support and enrich each other. This is not restricted to religion or government. Most of the wealthy real estate "developers" in the U.S. are connected this way. That's why Donald Trump was able to increase the few million dollars he inherited to the 9 or 10 billion dollars he claims today. He's actually a lousy businessman, although he's a very popular television entertainer.

[Wilsonandson]

The PM owns 14 Million Baht of cars.

http://m.todayonline.com/world/asia/thai-pm-revealed-own-millions-personal-assets

[phoenixdoglover]

The PM owns 14 Million Baht of cars.

http://m.todayonline.com/world/asia/thai-pm-revealed-own-millions-personal-assets

We're gonna need more buckets of whitewash.

[halloween]

The PM owns 14 Million Baht of cars.

http://m.todayonline.com/world/asia/thai-pm-revealed-own-millions-personal-assets

Wow! The number plate on the car I drive cost that much.

Any suggestion his vehicles are illegally imported?

[jaywalker]

I'm shaving my head, getting some of those KungFu lookin' robes and getting a Lamborghini Aventador.

Quit it! You make my ribs hurt!

Thanks.

[xen]

The cars are nice - hasn't anybody noticed that . I would not mind the dark red one myself .

[gandalf12]

The cars are nice - hasn't anybody noticed that . I would not mind the dark red one myself .

The cars are beautiful no question but not for a monk

[BKKdreaming]

Will they be putting the Mercedes on ebay to get rid of it ?

its a nice car , but like all the other "illegal" imported cars etc they seem to disappear under the Police "safe keeping" program

[Ks45672]

I wonder how much that license plate cost.

They're 600 thb at the dlt... You can pick whatever numbers you like from their catalogue..

[FloridaExport]

I wonder how much that license plate cost.

They're 600 thb at the dlt... You can pick whatever numbers you like from their catalogue..

I've always heard that special and low numbers cost more. Is this not the case?

[kiwikeith]

Clearly laws were broken. Let's see if the monk gets away with it. I think I know the answer already.

The official line is likely to be that this is so complicated it will take time to investigate.

Time that is as in time for it to be forgotten about.

Look, he was not involved in any fraud ,it was the other people that did it, he just got led astray by trusting those crooks, all he wanted was a nice attraction for people to pay to see and admire.

Shame on those nasty crooks that give cheques that dont belong to them and land to monks.