Naris gets the boot but Sirote stays after Finance shake-up
Finance Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula surprisingly decided to retain Sirote Swasdipanich as director-general of the Revenue Department but former Fiscal Policy Office chief Naris Chaiyasoot was shifted to an inactive post in a major reshuffle approved by the Cabinet yesterday.
Naris' transfer was expected, after Pridiyathorn last week blamed the Fiscal Policy Office under Naris' leadership for its failure to stand up to the risky fiscal policies unleashed by the ousted Thaksin Shinawatra government. Naris will become an inspector-general at the ministry. Sirote had come under strong criticism for his department's "failure" to collect tax from the Shinawatra family on its sale of Shin Corp to Temasek of Singapore. But Pridiyathorn defended Sirote, saying he did not find any irregularities in Sirote's performance and wanted Sirote to help him. "Sirote himself didn't plot to block the Revenue Department from collecting the taxes. There were other persons behind this deal. We are looking into it." Observers believe Finance Ministry permanent secretary Suparut Kawatkul also backed Sirote. However, Sirote's career still hinges on the investigations into the Shin deal by the Assets Examination Committee and the Auditor-General's Office. The latter has accused Sirote and other senior tax officials of negligence for failing to collect personal income tax from Panthongtae and Pinthongta, two of Thaksin's children. According to Finance Ministry sources, Pridiyathorn said earlier the reshuffle was part of the ministry's attempt to restore its image, as it was seen as highly influenced by the Thaksin government. Pannee Sathavarodom was promoted to director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office, while Pongpanu Svetarundra, an adviser to the Fiscal Policy Office, was promoted to director-general of the Public Debt Management Office. Ministry deputy permanent secretary Sanit Rangnoi will switch places with Utid Tamwatin, director-general of the Excise Department. Utid did not impress the new minister, because excise tax receipts missed the target for the previous fiscal year. Inspector-general Piyabhan Nimmanhaemin was promoted to director-general of the Comptroller General's Department, replacing Boonsak Jiampreecha, who becomes another inspector-general. Chavalit Sethameteekul and Supa Piyajitti, both inspectors-general, move up to become deputy permanent secretaries. Thevan Vichitakul, deputy director-general of the Treasury Department, advances to inspector-general.
Wichit Chaitrong The Nation
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