• 
• 

The defendants were named as Sirote Sawasdipanich, Wichai Jungrakkiart, Suchinda Saengchompoo, Molirat Boonyasiri and Kulruedi Saengsayan.

All five were fired for disciplinary violations. When the wrongdoing came to light in 2001, Sirote was director general of the Revenue Department and the other four defendants were tax code experts under his charge.

Prosecutors contend that Pojaman transferred her Shin Corp shares held by her nominee Duangta Wongpakdi to Bhanapot on November 7, 1997.

The shares were worth Bt738 million and Bhanapot failed to meet his tax liability amounting to Bt270 million.

The transaction came to the attention of the authorities in 2000, after the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) uncovered evidence in connection with its investigation on assets declared by Thaksin upon assuming office.

The NCCC report prompted the Revenue Department to open a tax probe on Pojaman and Bhanapot in 2001.

The probe, supervised by Sirote, focused on taking one-sided statements from the two without verifying the information nor examining circumstances and evidence surrounding the transaction.

Sirote's hasty ruling to classify the transaction as a "family gift" and grant tax exemption for Bhanapot has deprived the state of revenue.