Philip Morris Thailand and seven staffers deny charges of tax evasion

[webfact]

Philip Morris and seven staffers deny charges of tax evasion



BANGKOK: -- Philip Morris Thailand and seven staffers accused by the Department of Special Investigation of dodging more than 20 billion baht in excise taxes have denied the charges and vowed to fight the case when they showed up at the Criminal Court on Monday.

Named in the charge sheet by the public prosecution are Philip Morris Thailand as the first defendant, Mr Sila-ake Sunthrapai, Mrs Daluk Wannawat, Ms Saowalak Arpaberkbarn, Ms Janyanee Visutkulpanich, Ms Suchinda Trairatkaeyoon, Mrs Taksom Larpprasert and Ms Waraporn Apisathiensook.

According to the public prosecution, during July 28, 2003 and June 24, 2006, the eight defendants and others who are still at large had made 272 shipments of Marlboro brand of cigarettes into the country through Laemchabang deep-sea port and falsely declared the prices in order to pay less customs and excise taxes.

The court read the charges against the eight defendants and asked whether they would plead guilty or innocent. They all denied the charges and vowed to fight the case.

Because the case is complicated and involves many witnesses and evidences, the court set June 27 for the prosecution and the defendants to examine the evidences before the hearing scheduled on October 10.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/160969

-- Thai PBS 2016-04-26

[dcnx]

No worries, envelopes will be exchanged. Nothing more to see here.

[ezzra]

Where there's ' smokes ' there's fire......

[Mickmouse1]

Good 1...I was talking about them controlling the market and bringing in the cheapest Marlborough from Philippines.Prices were increased few times in the past 30 months from 75b to 125b.Serves them right.

[SOTIRIOS]

.....when you are forced to let 'the locals' operate and control......

[phoenixdoglover]

The.....................wheels..................of................justice..................in..................Thailand..................turn..................slowly.

Almost.....................................................imperceptibly.

[torpedo1970]

No worries, envelopes will be exchanged. Nothing more to see here.

Think this is the issue here..... No envelopes......

Dont you think that if they had paid...... it would never go to court....??

There is a BIG power struggle with Philip Morris in Thailand.... been for a while....

That is why you dont see any Philip Morris products in duty free at Bangkok Airport too....

A lot more to this story than we get to know.....

[Srikcir]

This case is complex and could cost Phillip Morris up to 80 billion baht in fines and penalties.

This case began under Thaksin regime shortly before a military coup overthrow him. It involves 272 shipments of Marlboro and L&M brands of cigarettes into the country through Laemchabang deep-sea port during July 28, 2003 and June 24, 2006.

Phillip Morris insists that its import valuations complied with World Trade Organization agreements and that Thailand violated Thailand’s obligations under World Trade Organization rules that aim to create a uniform way to value goods for customs purposes. Furthermore, Phillip Morris declared value had been cleared by local Thai customs officials.

In fact 2011, the WTO issued a ruling in 2011 ordering Thailand to put in place reforms on customs valuations and taxes. Thailand’s (retroactive)imposition of higher duties on cigarette imports from the Philippines was in violation of global trading rules

A favorable Thai court ruling may impact Thailand’s trade relationship with the Philippines.

The Philippine government is asking its Thai counterparts to provide information on the matter to determine whether the customs transactions covered by the WTO ruling are also part of the case Thailand wants to prosecute. Philippine Trade Assistant secretary Ceferino Rodolfo it wants to ensure that Philippine export interests are not affected and gains from the WTO ruling continue to benefit exporters.

In the background Phillip Morris' biggest competitor in Thailand is the Thai state-owned tobacco monopoly. Will the Thai government be willing to protect its domestic tobacco industry at the sacrifice of trade with the Philippines? Probably.

[elgordo38]

No worries, envelopes will be exchanged. Nothing more to see here.

If their dodging billions they will have to be big envelopes and a lifetime of free smokes. Every once in a while a big fish does come along.

[Rancid]

Since when do multinationals pay tax...anywhere?

[CantSpell]

No worries, envelopes will be exchanged. Nothing more to see here.

dodging more than 20 billion baht in excise taxes.

They are going to need real big envelopes

[wabothai]

1 man, 6 women, interesting.