10 years on, case of unfair practice to be filed against AP Honda
The Trade Competition Act Committee has finally decided to seek legal action against AP Honda Co for alleged unfair sales practices before the statute of limitations on the marathon case expires in April.
If state lawyers agree to pursue the case, it will be the first prosecution under the Trade Competition Act. The investigation has taken almost 10 years. AP Honda was sued by Kawasaki and Thai Suzuki Motor for pressuring its dealers to carry Honda motorcycles exclusively.
After a meeting with the committee, Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom said yesterday that it had agreed to forward the case to state prosecutors after finding hard evidence.
Suchart Arunsaengroj, director of AP Honda, said the company would wait and see the situation and the outcome of the case.
AP Honda principals could be sentenced to three years in jail and/or fined Bt6 million.
However, the committee dropped a case against giant modern trader Big C for alleged price dumping of printing paper after finding that it was not selling below cost.
The committee will continue investigating Thai Beverage for allegedly violating the Product and Service Price Act in marketing its Archa beer, as claimed by Singha beer agents. The law bans businesses from quoting too high or too low a price for their products.
The committee has reviewed a complaint from Big C that Tesco used unfair trade practices to woo Big C customers to Tesco Lotus stores. The claim has been probed since June but more information is needed before a conclusion can be drawn, the panel says.
