Phuket auction of Tranlee’s seized assets disappoints
The first day of the auction in Phuket of assets that were seized from Tranlee Travel Co Ltd and affiliated businesses saw the sale of six tour boats and six buses, raising Bt15.58 million, the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) announced yesterday.
Officials had hoped to raise Bt43 million from the sale of the six boats and 33 air-conditioned buses held at the Nakhon Phuket Municipality Office. But the atmosphere yesterday was quiet with fewer bidders than expected, so the committee concluded bidding early.
Amlo official Wittaya Nititham said this round of the auction had been slated to continue until Friday, adding that the panel would discuss how to sell the remaining 27 buses, possibly by lowering starting prices to motivate buyers in the next round of bidding in two months. This was the second sale of assets seized from Tranlee Travel and affiliated businesses, which catered for Chinese tourists. A previous auction of 151 assets from Sept 6 to 8 netted Bt108 million.
The assets were seized during raids earlier this year after investigators said the company was operating illegally.