Finance chief, six others face probe

Finance Ministry permanent secretary Suparat Kawatkul is among seven state officials who the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) yesterday decided to investigate for possible malfeasance in connection with tax payments by the Shinawatra family over its sale of Shin Corp last year.

The others are former Revenue Department director-general Sirote Sawatpanich, Paitoon Pongkesorn, Bencha Luischaroen, Chamras Yaemsoithong, Moreerat Bunyasiri and Krit Wipulanusat.

The AEC also accused Pranee Wetpruekpitak, a close aide of Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra, of involvement for sending letters asking for tax advice to the Revenue Department.

Suparat sent two aides to the press conference called by the AEC to announce its decision. They held mobile phones close to the microphone so that Suparat hear the exact wording of the AEC's decision.

AEC spokesman Sak Korsaengruang said that the body resolved to set up a panel comprising himself and eight others to look into whether the seven officials were guilty of malfeasance or dereliction of duty in connection with the alleged tax evasion by Pinthongta and Panthongtae Shinawatra, children of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Sak said that according to Article 39 of the Revenue Code, the share sale by Pinthongta and Panthongtae was taxable because they bought the Shin Corp shares outside the stock market as Ample Rich directors. However state officials ruled that the sale was not taxable.

Sak denied that the AEC was repeating an earlier investigation of Sirote by the National Counter Corruption Commission, in which he was found guilty of malfeasance and removed from his post.

"It is a different time and different action," he said.

Sak said Viroj Laohapan, chairman of an AEC panel, had reported that the Revenue Department had appraised Panthongtae and Pinthongta's tax liability over the Shin Corp share sale at up to Bt12 billion.

He said Udom Fuangfung, chairman of another AEC panel, had sought approval to press further charges against 49 people, including 32 members of Thaksin's cabinet, in connection with the two-and three-digit lottery scheme.

In a related development, an AEC subcommittee headed by Auditor-General Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka has found Bt600 million in a bank account belonging to Bhanapot Damapong, Pojaman's brother, that could be frozen as part of the proceeds from the Shin Corp share sale, a source said.

The panel has already frozen several bank accounts belonging to the Shinawatra family.

Budsarakham  Sinlapalavan

The Nation