Revenue Department asked to collect Shin Corp taxes from Shinawatra
The Cabinet has asked the Revenue Department to collect taxes, which could amount to Bt16 billion, from former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra over the Shin Corp affair.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said after Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting that he would not use his special powers under Article 44 of the interim constitution to meddle in the matter.
Involved agencies had agreed on Monday that normal legal procedures would be applied to this tax case, he said, adding that the Revenue Department would have to bring it to court.
He said the government followed the advice given by the Auditor General who suggested collecting tax from a sale of Shin Corp shares.
Admitting that the issue was complicated, Prayut said the Revenue Department would have to proceed collecting the tax by March 31.
Whether or not the department would be able to collect the taxes, the case should eventually be brought to the court where anyone accused of evading tax would be treated fairly, he added.
Since last year, the Auditor General has pressed the Finance Minister and head of the Revenue Department to collect taxes from Shinawatra’s family, estimated at between Bt12 billion and Bt16 billion, so far without success.
The tax in question involves a sale of Shin Corp shares to Temasek Holdings of Singapore in 2006.
