Sanit told AEC's subcommittee chairman Viroj Laohapan that his department has yet to summon Panthongtae and Pinthongta to pay Bt5.6 billion tax in connection to Shin Corp share sale because it has to follow procedures required by law by first cancelling the summons for the two to clarify their tax payment in accordance to Article 40 (8) of Revenue Code.

The department ruled that it has to issue a new summons for the two to pay tax in accordance to Article 40 (2) of the Revenue Code.

It also has to give both the right to object to the AEC's ruling.

The AEC quoted Viroj, who as a former Revenue Department director-general knows the process to collect backdated taxes well, as saying that the procedures should not take the 45 days granted by the panel.

On April 10, the AEC submitted its tax calculation to the department and suggested it demand Panthongtae and Pinthongta pay Bt5.6 billion by April 15.

The AEC yesterday told Sanit that it must tax both within the deadline, or by the end of May.

The AEC will soon submit another tax calculation form to the Revenue Department suggesting it tax Ample Rich for Bt20.8 billion, the source said.

Viroj told Sanit that if the Revenue Department does not agree with the AEC's ruling he "should not give press interviews" but forward his comments or suggestions directly to the AEC to prevent public confusion, the source said.

AEC spokesman Sak Korsaengruang defended criticism from Noppadol Pattama, lawyer to former prime minister Thaksin, who claimed the AEC's overtaxing Pinthongta and Panthongtae in regard to Shin Corp share sale would affect investment in holding companies in the stock market.

Sak said the AEC issued the ruling in accordance with previous rulings by the Revenue Department, which conform to the Revenue Code. All investors and companies have to follow Thai Revenue Code and Thai law, he said.

Bancha Khaengkhan,

Budsarakham Sinlapalavan

The Nation