Winai to head up Revenue Dept

His appointment came as a surprise since many observers had speculated that Finance Minster Surapong Suebwonglee would propose other candidates to the Cabinet.

Winai has served as an inspectorgeneral of the Finance Ministry and deputy directorgeneral of the Revenue Department.

The economic slowdown coupled with the political crisis is likely to cause tax revenues to fall short next year. The government is set to spend Bt1.8 tril¬lion and run a budget deficit equal to 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product.

The pending legal cases at the department concern members of the tax appeals panel who voted not to collect taxes from Bhanapot Damapong, who was later convicted by the Criminal Court for tax evasion. Bhanapot is a relative of Pojaman, the wife of expremier Thaksin.

The Cabinet yesterday also approved Surapong's proposal to extend the term of Suparut Kawatkul, permanent secretary for finance, for another year after his fouryear term ends this month.

The other new chiefs of key departments are Utid Tamwatin at the Customs Department and Thevan Vichitakul at the Treasury Department. Wisudhi Srisuphan becomes deputy permanent secretary for finance and Somchai Sujjapongse, head of the Fiscal Policy Office.

Supachai Jongsiri and Saowanee Kamolburt are the new inspectorsgeneral of the Finance Ministry.