2 replies to this topic

[Expattaya]

It's peculiar that the government installed by the Junta appears to have directed its immediate efforts to taxing the hell out of the former PM's family, rather than expose the specifics of the alleged wide-spread official corruption which was the reason for the coup in the first place.

Since the millions in taxes and penalites they are discussing against the family amount to little more than petty cash compared to the billions of claimed corruption in state contracts, you have to wonder just what is going on here.

For example,the Asset Examination Committee (AEC), the new government's graft-buster, has announced that it intends to file charges against Thaksin's brother-in-law, wife Pojaman and their maid for allegedly colluding to avoid paying income tax.

Mrs. Thaksin claims she gave her brother 750 million baht worth of Shin stock in 1997 as a wedding present, which the AEC says was a taxable event. It's not clear to this writer , who is admittedly not a Thai tax expert, what's taxable about the transaction, especially since it was ruled by the tax office back in 1997 not to be a taxable event.

The clue may lie in the fact that lodging charges of tax evasion agains the Shinawatra family could carry criminal penalites including jail if proven guilty. With the former PM playing nerve games with the coup leaders by popping up all over SE Asia, these government moves may be a less than subtle warning to Mr. Thaksin that the games he is playing may have a price, for which those living in Thailand will have to pay.

[UncleSam]

it was ruled by the tax office back in 1997 not to be a taxable event.

Most peciliar, because that's years before he became Prime Minister.

Hehehe....

[Snowy]

It's not clear to this writer , who is admittedly not a Thai tax expert, what's taxable about the transaction, especially since it was ruled by the tax office back in 1997 not to be a taxable event.

The contention is that several of the Shinawatra family business dealings were taxable but they were given exemption from paying taxes by pliant officials because of Thaksin's position.

It also appears that the Shinawatras are head of the list for obvious reasons but other individuals and families involved in state corruption will get their turn.

And, of course, any guilty verdicts especially if resulting in jail sentences will, in most cases, debar them from holding political office for ten years at least.