tax will be collected from Thaksin

Outgoing Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij is confident that the Revenue Department will be able to pursue former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for the overdue tax worth 11 billion THB before the case is expired.

Mr Korn admitted that the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions had clearly ruled that Mr Thaksin was accountable for the 11 billion THB in capital gains tax stemming from the sales of Shin Corp shares, rather than his children Panthongtae and Pinthongta Shinawatra. The ex-premier was identified by the Court as the rightful owner of the shares, which were privately traded outside the stock market between Ample Rich Investment and Singaporean firm Temasek Holdings.

Mr Kornr then voiced his belief that relevant officials of the Revenue Department would abide by the Court’s verdict to retrieve the tax money owed to the state from Mr Thaksin; otherwise, they would be prosecuted for negligence of duty in accordance with Section 157 of the Criminal Code. He assured that actions would be taken at haste without trouble with the statute of limitations of the case.

Regarding a report that former Secretary-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala would become his successor in the finance minister post, Mr Korn said it would not benefit the effort to acquire the 11-billion-THB tax if it was true. He cited many past decisions by Mr Thirachai as being in favor of Mr Thaksin and his family and aiming to help them escape their legal punishments.